Man United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had the golden chance to pick up his first trophy since taking over at the club but Villarreal boss Unai Emery made sure that the Norwegian did not get his hands on the Europa League title.
Villarreal might have struggled in the La Liga this season but Unai Emery has done wonders with the side in Europe. Man United on the other hand have fared decently in the EPL but they have been really poor in Europe, first getting knocked out of the Champions League and now losing the Europa League final.
Manchester United were without a doubt the favourites to win the Europa League title in Gdansk but according to pundit Rio Ferdinand, Unai Emery put out a tactical masterclass to make sure the English giants did not get a stronghold during the game.
“Manchester United have relied on individuals throughout the season to come up with the trump cards, in critical moments in the games,” he said on BT Sport, as reported.
“Bruno has been the man they’ve leaned on, Cavani, Mason [Greenwood] sometimes, Marcus [Rashford], but today they never came up with the goods.
“In the final third, they didn’t take enough chances, they didn’t risk enough, the imagination wasn’t there, the creativity today. It’s not been too many occasions where you can say that, that one of them hasn’t stepped up and produced.
Unai Emery wins his FOURTH Europa League trophy 🏆
King of the competition. pic.twitter.com/MPp36fqRXs
— B/R Football (@brfootball) May 26, 2021
“They had a spell after Cavani scored and you thought they had the momentum and were going to go on and take the game by the scruff of the neck, but they didn’t.
“Tactically I think Unai Emery got it spot on. Cavani thrives with space behind defenders, but they didn’t allow space behind today at all.
“Bruno was nullified, closed down at all times. There was no space for people like Mason Greenwood, Marcus Rashford to get in behind with their movement and anticipation.
“It was never there today. You have to give credit to Unai Emery for that, because tactically he got it spot on.”
Apart from a few shots here and there Man United rarely troubled Rulli as they could only manage two shots in target during the 120 minutes. Also, Unai Emery made regular substitutions during the match so that he has plenty of fresh legs on the pitch and this was another big reason why the Spanish side did not tire out during extra time.
Unai Emery has the magic wand when it comes to the Europa League and the Villarreal boss once again proved that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer still has a lot more work to do if he wishes to rub shoulders with the best in the business.
