Ole Gunnar Solskjaer admitted Manchester United failed to turn up after they suffered Europa League final heartbreak against Villarreal.
Goalkeeper David De Gea saw his penalty saved by rival Geronimo Rulli at the end of a dramatic, 22-kick marathon shoot-out to earn Villarreal their first ever major trophy but leave Solskjaer and his players crestfallen.
The United manager said: ‘We didn’t turn up. We didn’t play as well as we can do. That’s football for you. Sometimes decided on one kick and that’s the difference between winning and losing.
‘We’ve got to, not savour the feeling, but taste it and make sure you don’t get it again.’
Striker Marcus Rashford issued a passionate defence of United after their defeat, saying: ‘We came here to win and have been working hard all season and this was the opportunity to win a trophy and it did not happen.
‘All I can say is the team will not give up. No chance. The manager will not give up. He won’t allow us to give up and we will come back next season with a bigger desire.
‘People say a lot about Manchester United, “they’re going downhill, blah blah, blah” but for me the club, the desire, the hunger, the talent, the ability, we have everything to compete at the highest level. We just have to show it to the world and to ourselves. Why we belong at the top, in finals like this, winning finals like this.’
After Edinson Cavani cancelled out Gerard Moreno’s first-half opener there were no further goals in Gdansk and it was Villarreal who triumphed after the nerve-shredding shootout extending below-par United’s wait for a first trophy since 2017.
United finished second in the Premier League but trophyless this season.
Asked if United can consider this season a success, Solskjaer said: ‘No. It’s not a successful season ‘Trophies is what matter at this club so no is the short answer.’
De Gea was beaten by all 11 penalties and started the shootout having last saved a spot-kick back in April 2016.
Solskjaer added: ‘You go through every scenario of course and it has crossed my mind in build up to the game [his penalty record] but we were confident in David and prepared but anything can happen in penalty shootouts so I stuck with the keeper who played all the game.’
Gunners4ever❤
461
"Deano>de Gea we finally have a proper goalkeeper now" 4-year trophy drought💩 "AWB the best defensive full-back in world football" 4-year trophy drought💩 "Maguire can emulate Rio Ferdy, Vidić, Bruce and Stam" 4-year trophy drought💩 "Shawberto Carlos the best left-back in the league" 4-year trophy drought💩 "Pastor Fred" 4-year trophy drought💩 "Scott McTerminator/McSauce" 4-year trophy drought💩 "Pogboooom" 4-year trophy drought💩 "Bruno the Portuguese Magnificoooo" 4-year trophy drought💩 "Greenwood the next big thing" 4-year trophy drought💩 "Rashnaldoooo" 4-year trophy drought💩 "Ice-cold Martial" 4-year trophy drought💩 "Cavani ages like fine wine" 4-year trophy drought💩 "Amad, Shoretire, Elanga, Tuanzebe etc. our future" 4-year trophy drought💩 "Ole at the wheel" 4-year trophy drought - FA cup final bottled in 2018 (under José), 4 semi-finals and 1 European final bottled in 16 months❌ Laughing at Man Uterus[Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh]
Colekachi
313
No Man United player should speak to Media again after last night nonsense. Including the coach. No excuse... Ole should be blame thouroughly for this loss. No Tacticts, Nothing. You know u dont have squad depth and u played all ur best players without a joker/wild card on the bench to make a differnce in second half. Same error from last season loss to Sevilla. Why play Pogba with Scot when u know u could have played Matic instead on that defensive MD pivot with McTominay. Why not play Pogba on that left up front and keep Greenwood on bench to come in for second half??... 90mins no substitution bcos u dont trust d guys u have on d bench. Same error from last season. As a coach if ur team lacks desire its ur duty to hit them from the stand so they can buckle up. I feel bad but at same time, its football. One Team has to win or lose. Till next season if he should continue like this without a trophy, he should be sacked. 😣Period
PierreMushongi
304
Ole is as good as a lost sheep. Not delivering a trophy in this final justifies how far he can go. TROPHYLESS MINDSET. We need a manager with tactical brain and audacity to make decisions. I didnot understand him still relying on Rashford whom is starting talking blah blah blah after he singlehandlely spun an open goal to win it whilst Cavani scored from a 40 meters with just a Chip Shot! Zidane and Conte are now out of work. It should be wise United take this golden opportunity to hand one of them this team and change every outcome that is killing most of the United fans in a burren of 4years now with no taste of glory.
ARSENALisAss
9
"Deano>de Gea we finally have a proper goalkeeper now" 4-year trophy drought💩 "AWB the best defensive full-back in world football" 4-year trophy drought💩 "Maguire can emulate Rio Ferdy, Vidić, Bruce and Stam" 4-year trophy drought💩 "Shawberto Carlos the best left-back in the league" 4-year trophy drought💩 "Pastor Fred" 4-year trophy drought💩 "Scott McTerminator/McSauce" 4-year trophy drought💩 "Pogboooom" 4-year trophy drought💩 "Bruno the Portuguese Magnificoooo" 4-year trophy drought💩 "Greenwood the next big thing" 4-year trophy drought💩 "Rashnaldoooo" 4-year trophy drought💩 "Ice-cold Martial" 4-year trophy drought💩 "Cavani ages like fine wine" 4-year trophy drought💩 "Amad, Shoretire, Elanga, Tuanzebe etc. our future" 4-year trophy drought💩 "Ole at the wheel" 4-year trophy drought - FA cup final bottled in 2018 (under José), 4 semi-finals and 1 European final bottled in 16 months❌ Laughing at Man Uterus[Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh]
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At least we’re in finals, unlike you guys, you guys are the absolute worst team in EPL, yet you still try to make fun of us🤡🤡🤡Arsenal fans are absolute clowns and they are the shittiest people on the planet🤡🤡🤡