Europa League Final
Mourinho’s side triumph against backdrop of atrocity back home
While Manchester United have played many matches in difficult circumstances, the context of their Europa League showdown with Ajax was uniquely awful, coming less than two days after a terrorist bombing in their home city left 22 people dead and 59 injured.
But the Final was there to be played as proof of defiance; that life must and will go on. And United illustrated the point by keeping admirably clear heads to win far more comfortably in the end than the 2-0 scoreline might suggest.
For United, the match represented more than it needed, never mind access to the Champions League which had escaped them in the Premier League. For Ajax, who were probably as surprised as anyone that they were back on a great European stage, the context had brought its own pressures and uncertainties.
United manager Jose Mourinho, surprisingly, brought Juan Mata back into midfield and chose Chris Smalling ahead of Phil Jones in the centre of defence instead of the suspended Eric Bailly. Both decisions proved utterly vindicated. Sergio Romero continued as Europa League goalkeeper, rather than David De Gea.
UEFA had trimmed the pre-match ceremonials to the essential basics, including a one-minute’s silence in tribute to the victims of the terror blast at the Ariana Grande concert two days earlier.
It was probably a relief for everyone
involved when Slovene referee Damir Skomina blew his whistle for the focus to turn, however briefly, to the football.
United were first into their stride and Ajax keeper Andre Onana nervously misfielded a through ball. He was then fortunate when Marouane Fellaini was just too late in his charge to reach a high-speed left-wing cross from Mata.
They had their reward after 18 minutes, however, when world record signing Paul Pogba seized on a square pass from Fellaini and saw his shot deflect off the trailing leg of unfortunate centre-back Davinson Sanchez and fly past Onana into the net.
United, set up to pragmatic perfection by Mourinho, boasted too much experience and physicality for the youthful Dutch outfit, who appeared lightweight by comparison. It was men against boys, albeit some very technically talented boys.
Marcus Rashford was proving a handful in the centre of attack for United, for whom skipper Antonio Valencia had a fierce, angled shot beaten out by Onana. All it needed was for that second goal to push them closer to the one European trophy which had always proved beyond them – whether labelled Fairs Cup, UEFA Cup or, as now, Europa League.
That goal proved beyond them in the remainder of the first half, but two minutes of the second half was all it took, Henrikh Mkhitaryan hooking in his sixth of the tournament after Mata’s right-wing corner was knocked down by Smalling.
Fellaini should have added a third in
United boasted too much experience and physicality for the youthful Dutch outfit, who appeared lightweight by comparison. It was men against boys, albeit very technically talented boys
the 64th minute, rising to a fine rightwing cross from Pogba, but his header went firmly into the arms of Onana.
It mattered not, in the end. United could even afford the late, sentimental substitution of Mata by club captain Wayne Rooney for what was his 559th and possibly last appearance in a United shirt as Skomina’s final whistle signalled victory for United.
Financially, victory was worth £50million in Champions League TV and prize money next season, with a £22m bonus from adidas and the £5.5m Europa League-winners prize money.
Mourinho ultimately held up four fingers to the cameras, signalling his European successes in 2003, 2004, 2010 and now 2017. Usually he ignores trophy celebrations, but not this time.
His debut season with United had brought not only three trophies – Community Shield, League Cup and Europa League – plus a return, via Stockholm, to the Champions League.
Mission accomplished, players, officials and fans had something to celebrate – if only briefly.