Manchester United’s long season ended in its 61st game and in semi-final heartbreak for the third time. Extra-time appeared the favoured outcome before Luuk de Jong stole ahead of Victor Lindelöf and Aaron Wan-Bissaka to score the winner 12 minutes from time for Sevilla FC. Sevilla are now clearly the Europa League specialists with 5 wins of this tourney and another Final ahead.
While they will meet Shakhtar Donetsk or Internazionale in Friday’s final, Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s side head for the beach and reflection on what might have been. A third place Premier League finish is admirable but losing in the League Cup, FA Cup and now Europa League semi-final is a disappointment United will not wish to repeat.
What cost United this evening should concern Solskjær as it is the leitmotif of many United defeats: a profligacy before goal and a vulnerable defence, that might have conceded four or five. This plus a lack of depth in most positions is what the manager has to address in the current window.
This now makes for 3 seasons without a trophy: which last happened in the 1980s for MU. Solskjaer made substitutions in the 87th minute, which was too late. His strikers, especially Martial, missed too many chances. And Pogba failed to make a dent.
There is a lot to think about in the break.