Manchester United 2020-21: Reflections on a season in the Red

 As I write this, the dust has just about settled on the epitaph of Manchester United's 2020-21 season.
It was a season of both progress and promise for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and his exciting, emerging young United side. A baptismal campaign for Old Trafford's next generation - spearheaded by the old stager Edinson Cavani, a zest of youth  - Mason Greenwood, Amad, Marcus Rashford and Scott McTominay - to name but four and a sprinkling of stellar, world class talents. 

Despite the bitter disappointment of football's cruellest fate - losing a cup final on penalties - the end of the season is a good time to take stock and reflect on the campaign just gone.

It was of course, a campaign like no other: a condensed eight month season, stadiums locked and empty until the last two gameweeks, and a match every three or four days. It was football at a density and a volume we had never seen before. 
As the curtain comes down on Solskjaer's second full season in the hotseat, there is much to reflect upon. The taste of defeat might be bitter, raw and still difficult to take, but the team can channel their anguish and come back stronger next season. I hope the players are hurting - they must take the mindset of ensuring they're never in the position of being runners up again and - next time - they will be the ones lifting the trophy rather than just forlornly walking past it. 

 A fourth successive season without silverware will be the over-riding memory of a season in the Red, and as such, it must be considered a disappointment. Even had we won the Europa League, you would say it's still only a consolation prize having faded from contention when it comes to the major prizes everyone wants - the league and the Champions League. Would we have celebrated victory on Wednesday? Of course we would, and it could have been a valuable staging post for this side to instill the trophy-winning habit and provide a launchpad for greater things to come. But, ultimately, it is not where you want to be. Having finally broken the semi-final jinx after four consecutive losses at that stage, a runners up medal is hardly reason to quell the doubters. Fans have still been left disenchanted at the lack of trophies and, although a team can progress year on year (which we are doing) the true measure of that upward trajectory is truly measured by the only currency that matters: prizes, cups and silverware. 

In relation to the league, Solskjaer inherited a team that had endured its worst 17-game start since the pre-Premier League era - 26 points from 51 available. Since then, there has been stability, consistent top four finishes, a continual improvement on league places and a gap to the eventual winners that's closing by the year. 

At the turn of the year, we dared to dream, for a few short weeks at least. A string of gritty, character building single goals wins - in many ways the recurring theme of the campaign - fired the Reds to the pinnacle of the Premier League. The hashtag #21iscoming suddenly seemed more than just a pipedream - for the first time in the post Sir Alex Ferguson era, United were top of the table at the turn of the year. Alas, it was not to be as City's consistency, strength in depth and metronomic form proved the difference and they pulled away to a fifth title in nine years but it was certainly fun while it lasted. 

As a footnote, no team has doubled us under Ole and only Liverpool and City have ever finished above Solskjaer's United. Even Jose Mourinho, the serial title winner, was only able to equal this effort. 
Not only has there been progression both in securing a runners up spot and in closing the gap, but - under Solskjaer - United managed something not even Sir Alex Ferguson managed to do. The Reds became the fourth side (Arsenal twice and Preston), to remain unbeaten away from home in an entire league season - we've not lost away from home since before the pandemic, in January 2020. Second in the league with 74 points set against third place and 66 points last time out. Champions League qualification was only secured on the last day of the season in 2019-20 but this time it has never looked in doubt. Progress? Certainly. Success? Absolutely not - any season without a trophy cannot be considered a successful one when you are Manchester United. Solskjaer will know that - as he himself alluded to on Wednesday night. We and you can be sure he will also know his managerial tenure cannot truly be considered as such until he wins that elusive first trophy. 

United have had an impressive recent record in the cups over the last few years, consistently reaching the latter stages. It proved a similar story this time around, only losing to the eventual winners in each one: the Europa League (Villarreal), League Cup (Manchester City) and FA Cup (Leicester City) in the final, semis and quarter finals respectively. 

There have been some magnificent individual performances this season. Luke Shaw has gone from unwanted outcast to the best left-back in the country by a considerable distance. Shaw has had the season of his life and his resurgence has been the perfect example of Ole's excellent man management. Marcus Rashford has also caught the eye with 21 goals from left midfield despite playing with injury, and Bruno Fernandes has again been the string-pulling supremo with 28 goals and 18 assists to finish as our top scorer and winner of the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year for a second time. Scott McTominay has improved on last term's showing with a stellar season, with the Lancaster-born Scot quickly becoming one of Solskjaer's key men - adding goals to his game and epitomised by his totemic, man of the match performance in the Gdansk final. Dean Henderson has shone when given the chance and Mason Greenwood struggled but then sparkled as he hit a run of stunning late-season form. 

Not only that, but there have been breakthrough campaigns for the latest fresh-faced Reds to step off the Carrington conveyor belt - Anthony Elanga, Hannibal Mejbri, Will Fish and Shola Shoretire - showing United's age old tradition of giving youth its chance is alive and well. 16 Academy graduates have now made their senior first team bows under the tutelage of Solskjaer. 

Despite comfortably outdoing them both, there seems an obsession to judge Solskjaer against Frank Lampard and Mikel Arteta. The comparisons may seem obvious - all three men are part of a growing trend of top, high profile clubs appointing legendary former players as their manager but that's as far as it goes. Lampard was out on his ear after a year and a half at Chelsea, and Arteta failed to take Arsenal even into the new Conference League. What an effort from him to go from 8th to 8th. Yet Solskjaer is the one to continually be targeted as a failure and a serial under-achiever. 

Solskjaer has proved in 2020-21 why he deserves at least one more season in the job, it's a rebuilding job, a process, and he should be backed in the summer. He has achieved so much with his hands tied behind his back, gets no support from the media, fans and ex professional players but yet has made a mockery of all his doubters. With this backing and sign of support from the corridors of power at Old Trafford, the onus and the pressure will certainly be on Solskjaer to turn promise into prizes and I would be happy for him to get another season in trying to do so. 

So near but yet so far for Solskjaer's United

Writing this 48 hours on from the events of Wednesday evening, the pain and heartbreak of the Europa League final has continued to linger. 
I decided to take a breather after the agony of our defeat - I wanted to let the dust settle, the furore to die down and for my head to begin to piece together coherent thoughts as I tried to come to terms with what had happened. I didn't want this to an emotional, knee-jerk reaction piece so I thought it best to take a day or so to reflect and think rationally before I penned my thoughts.

 I rarely let my emotions get the better of me and don't often feel down or upset after a bad result, but there's nothing worse than seeing a winnable final slip away. Actually there is. Seeing a winnable final slip away on penalties. Everyone loves a good ol' penalty shootout - fantastic for the neutral but hell on earth when it's your team. Sometimes I really do hate football. I'm still gutted, this result hurt me and it will haunt my dreams for a long while to come. 

It may have been "only" the Europa League - a competition United only found themselves in because we weren't good enough in the Champions League - but try telling that to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and his players. As Geronimo Rulli stretched out a hand to tip away from opposite number David de Gea, United's red shirted heroes sunk to their knees in despair, the agony clear for all to see. Bruno Fernandes cried, Paul Pogba walked round with his hands on his head and the greatest of them all, Sir Alex Ferguson, wrapped a tender arm around the sunken shoulders of De Gea. They did not want their runners up medals and who can blame them? No one remembers the gallant losers. 

 When you've not been in a final for three seasons - and not won anything in four - beggars certainly cannot be choosers. This could have been the launchpad for bigger and better things but instead it was only a letdown. It was a supposed to be a night when the progress made under Ole finally got reward - instead it was another missed opportunity. 

There perhaps seemed an element of fate as Solskjaer the manager led United into a European showpiece 22 years to the day since his greatest act of derring do as a player, but instead the Reds wait for silverware will stretch into a fifth year. The longer the wait goes on, the more the doubts over his suitability for the job will continue to grow. Promise needs to turn to prizes sooner rather than later. 

As Manchester United's tearful and tired players trooped past the trophy - soon to be decked in yellow rather than red - it was the epitome of our season - so near, but yet so far. Just as the 65cm high trophy remained within touching distance but yet out of reach, so too has silverware, not for the first time, slipped from the grasp of Solskjaer and his side. The 2020-21 season ended as it had begun for United - painfully. Progress was made and plenty was promised, but ultimately nothing was delivered.

Such are the fine margins of a football penalty shootout, it is difficult to criticise, or to apportion blame. There is a blame culture in this country and most of it will inevitably be put on the shoulders of Solskjaer. But what he can do when you lose in a manner akin to the toss of a coin? David de Gea failed on every one of Villarreal's eleven successful spot-kicks and then missed the decisive one - but can you really hold him accountable? Someone has to miss, and it's hardly his job to score penalties. On another day, he'd have saved a few of those spot-kicks and we'd be sitting here having a very different conversation. De Gea has failed to stop any of the last 36 penalties he's faced and has only saved five of his last 40. FIVE. So whilst there was, indeed, a case to put on Dean Henderson solely for the shootout to try and shift the equilibrium, how many managers would have actually done so? I can only think of the 2014 World Cup quarter-final when a certain Louis van Gaal subbed on Tim Krul against Costa Rica. He saved two spot-kicks and the Netherlands went on to win the quarter - final. But what's to say Henderson would have fared any better...

But I can't think of any other examples. We can all sit here and say what we would have done differently but hindsight is a wonderful thing and Ole did what he thought was right. You live and die by your decisions - sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. 

Scott McTominay outshone his more illustrious colleagues Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba in midfield, with the Scot's energy, industry and driving runs again coming to the fore in the biggest of games. Mason Greenwood and Edinson Cavani were excellent and Aaron Wan - Bissaka had a good game at right-back. 

Too many players didn't do themselves justice - Luke Shaw - off the back of a magnificent season - failed to find one more big performance and this was the nadir of Marcus Rashford's professional career. Pogba flitted intermittently and Bruno was bogged down by Unai Emery's spoiling gameplan. 

Not for me is the criticism, or the "what ifs" or the scapegoating. I'm not angry and I don't think its right to rant. I'm proud of the team - we did superbly to get that far, the players have been magnificent all season and deserve huge credit for their efforts. We can only hope the bitter disappointment of Wednesday night in Gdansk will serve to spur them on next season. Of course, we'd have loved to win it, but perhaps it's a good thing the players know what it's like to lose a final. The first trophy is always the hardest one to win and when it inevitably does happen, it will be even sweeter.  

Match report: Man Utd 1-1 Villarreal (10-11 pens)

Manchester United suffered Europa League final agony from the spot at the hands of Unai Emery's Villarreal. 
The ex-Arsenal manager pulled off a fourth success in the competition as his unfancied Yellow Submarines tucked away all eleven of their penalties before Geronimo Rulli saved the 22nd effort from opposite number David de Gea to deny United a first piece of silverware under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Edinson Cavani had earlier cancelled out Gerard Moreno's 30th goal of the campaign to restore parity and that was the way it stayed throughout extra-time to ultimately force the lottery of penalties. 
Typically under Emery, Villarreal dug in as the Reds struggled with energy and invention late on as the Gdansk showpiece became a tense and tired affair as the tie drifted into extra-time and then the nail biting drama of the shootout. 

In the Reds 61st and final game of a marathon season, Solskjaer restored his key men having played a shadow side at Molineux in the last match of the league season. Mason Greenwood and Marcus Rashford were paired together with Eric Bailly at centre-back alongside Victor Lindelof in the enforced absence of captain Harry Maguire. Paul Pogba played in a deeper midfield role with Fred - perhaps surprisingly - named on the bench.

Scott McTominay - probably the best player on the pitch - flashed a shot wide inside the opening ten minutes when he should have done better with a trademark strike from distance.
Villarreal's Spurs loanee Juan Foyth then required treatment for a bloodied nose after an accidental collision with Pogba. 

Villarreal defended deep and in numbers but United dominated possession without managing to get in behind the Spaniards organised and well drilled low block. 
Luke Shaw's cross-come-shot flashed across goal with no one on the end of it to take it beyond Rulli, before United target Pau Torres headed over at the other end in a rare opening for the La Liga side. 

Cavani mis-controlled a pass from Greenwood on 23 minutes but United's threat fizzled out and we fell behind on the half hour mark in familiar fashion. United's Achilles heel has been set pieces and it was a case of deja vu here. In fairness to Dani Parejo, it was a well-struck set piece, whipped in with height and pace to drop between our two centre-backs into the path of Moreno, and he stuck out a foot to knock in the ball in beyond the stranded De Gea.

Rulli - supposedly suspect - was protected and marshalled by a wall of yellow as Villarreal swamped and stifled United are every turn.
Greenwood made an encouraging darting run in the closing stages of the half but - as if magnetically - it was a yellow shirt which was able to intercept the ball and shepherd it back to the keeper.

Greenwood was scythed down on 52 minutes but the French referee Clement Turpin, appalling all game, waved away vociferous protests after the obligatory VAR check. 
However, the video technology was soon to work in United's favour with the equaliser three minutes later. McTominay's driving run won a corner, Shaw's effort was half cleared and Cavani pounced to turn the ball home from Rashford's deflected shot.

A longer VAR check saw hearts in mouth but there was nothing wrong with the goal as the ref confirmed Cavani had been onside to finally break Villarreal's rearguard.
Rashford missed a sitter on 70 minutes when clean through but he will have been relieved to see the offside flag raised after an infringement from Bruno Fernandes in the build up.

Cavani headed Shaw's cross against Torres and another penalty appeal was turned down when the same player seemed to handle a Greenwood ball in but again there was nothing doing.

With legs beginning to tire, Emery finally threw off the shackles and introduced all five of his substitutes to breathe new life into his sinking Yellow Submarines.
22 years on to the day since his famous exploits in Barcelona, neither Solskjaer nor his side were able to conjure up another magical winning moment.

With United tiring and Villarreal newly freshened through their bench, it took Ole until the 100th minute to make a change as Fred came on for Greenwood to tighten the midfield and give his side energy.
Parejo fired wide and Moreno went close with a header but, in truth, a shootout long seemed inevitable with neither side having the willpower - or the fitness - to launch one last push forward.

Juan Mata and Alex Telles both came on seconds from the end for the penalties and both, to their credit, dispatched their spot-kicks with ease. Rashford, Cavani and Fernandes were also amongst United's five penalty takers but the extraordinary shootout came all the way down to the fate of the respective keepers. Rulli converted, De Gea failed to do so and United's hopes of European glory were agonisingly over for another season.

Overall team perfomance: 6/10
United Faithful Man of the Match: Scott McTominay 

Europa League final predicted XI: Tuanzebe and Rashford to start

 Manchester United will look to finish their season with a first piece of silverware under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as the Reds face Villarreal in the Europa League final.
United take on Unai Emery's Yellow Submarines in Gdansk tomorrow evening with 9,500 fans in the stadium in our 61st and final match of a unique 2020-21 season. Fresh from a creditable runners up finish in the league, all the focus now is on delivering European flory and what could be a seminal moment for Solskjaer and his side. 

Harry Maguire is a major doubt for the showpiece as United's skipper battles with an ankle ligament injury. It seems almost certain Maguire will miss out, even though he has travelled with the squad, and so Bruno Fernandes is expected to captain the side in Maguire's absentia. You have to feel for Maguire - the marathon man never gets injured for two years but the first one he gets rules him out of a cup final. 

Solskjaer has a couple of major decisions to make over his team - who will partner Victor Lindelof at the back and will it be Mason Greenwood or Marcus Rashford on the right? Here are the eleven men we think Solskjaer will select and send out in Gdansk tomorrow night to bring home the trophy

GK - David de Gea

Solskjaer faces a major dilemma in the summer as he has two very good goalkeepers but, of course, only one of them can be first choice. That's a debate for another day, but de Gea deserves to get the nod for the final following an impressive performance over two legs in the Roma semi-final. Henderson played in both legs of our last 32 and last 16 ties against Real Sociedad and Milan before De Gea took up the gloves for Granada and Roma. There's no reason to drop him here and having not played in the 2017 final when Sergio Romero was selected in his stead, De Gea will get his chance here.

RB - Aaron Wan - Bissaka

A no brainer, Wan - Bissaka is a certainty to start having been rested at Wolves in our last league game in readiness for the final. His task will be made easier by the expected absence of Samuel Chukwueze - with Villarreal's wing wizard set to miss out through injury. Roma got a lot of joy when he was substituted at half-time in the Italian capital - AWB was on a booking and could have missed the final - and his importance was only highlighted in second half absentia. Primed and ready for his first major final at senior level

CB - Victor Lindelof

The Iceman will need to live up to his nickname as he attempts to shackle Villarreal's 29-goal striker Gerard Moreno. Without his cohort Maguire next to him, Lindelof is expected to be the senior man and has to shoulder the added responsibility of organising the defence in his captain's absence. Another rested at Wolves, so Lindelof is a certainty to play at the heart of the backline. Lindelof is bidding for his first major honour in English football and will look to head into the heat of battle with Sweden on a high. I expect this to be a busy evening at the office for him.

CB - Axel Tuanzebe

The big call for Solskjaer - does he go with a relative rookie or the experience of Eric Bailly against his former side? He may well decide the latter to be a preferable option but we think he will plump for the more youthful Tuanzebe. The man who shackled Kylian Mbappe in the Parc des Princes has been a peripheral figure at times this season and would never have expected to line up for the Reds in a major final. It has been clear since Maguire's injury at Villa Park that it would be one of Bailly or Tuanzebe alongside Lindelof in this final - both played at Wolves and, if that was an audition, then Tuanzebe passed it with flying colours. If he hadn't already done so, then Tuanzebe's performance at Molineux may have helped Solskjaer to make up his mind. He gets the nod despite Bailly's greater experience. Potentially a seminal, coming of age evening for the 23-year-old.

LB - Luke Shaw

Shaw will finally get his chance to play in a final - United have featured in four since Shaw joined but he's missed out on selection every time. No risk of that this time. United's Players Player of the Season has had the campaign of his life and his energy, industry and work rate will be key in suppressing an exuberant Villarreal side. Shaw has shared left-back duties with Alex Telles in this competition but there is no doubt over the former's participation in the final. Our best left-back, and indeed the finest exponent of his craft in the country. Shaw is going to the Euros and will hope to do so as a Europa League winner for the second time.

CDM - Fred

The Brazilian picked up a minor knock against Fulham and missed the Wolves game but is expected to be fine to man the midfield in Gdansk. A go to man for Solskjaer in games like this one, Fred is virtually a guaranteed starter when the big games come around. Needs to improve his distribution and you can be certain of at least one 30-yarder each week when this man plays. It seems almost certain Solskjaer will revert to "McFred" in midfield. Fred has featured in every match of United's Europa League run and is seen as indispensable by his manager. 

CDM - Scott McTominay

Taken off against Fulham with a minor knock but he too, like Fred, is expected to be fit to play. Rested against Wolves, McTominay is always a certainty for the big games and the Lancaster-born Scot - a dyed-in-the-wool United fan - will relish the opportunity to take the field in a final for his boyhood club. "McFred" have consistently been Solskjaer's first choice picks in matches like this one and there's no reason to believe he will change it at this stage. McTominay will lock horns with ex-Hornet Etienne Capoue (or former Gunner Francis Coquelin) and will be expected to dictate the play and start United's attacks from deep. 

RW - Marcus Rashford

The other major selection headache for Solskjaer when it comes to deciding upon his XI for the game - who will get the nod on the right wing? On current form, Mason Greenwood deserves to start but, equally, his pace and dead eye ability may be better utilised off the bench later in the game. Both were left out at Molineux, so there were no clues from Solskjaer regarding which of the pair he will go with. It's possible - albeit unlikely - that both could play but that would mean leaving Paul Pogba out and that simply will not happen. Rashford is better on the left but so is Pogba so it seems likely Rashford will move across as Solskjaer completely overhauls his attacking options. With 21 goals to his name this season, Rashford has been a virtual ever-present despite playing through injury. We think he will get the nod over his England colleague Greenwood for this one. One of the few players to have experienced a final in the Red of United.

CAM - Bruno Fernandes

Fernandes will captain the side in the absence of Maguire and will as usual be relied upon to act as United's inspiration, instigator and string-pulling creator in chief. More than anyone, Fernandes deserves the chance to lift a trophy with the club having completely transformed our fortunes since signing last January. His form may have dipped slightly since the turn of the year, but his star remains undimmed and 28 goals from midfield for United's double-winning Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year only serves to highlight his vital importance to the team. The beating heart of Manchester United, you can be sure Unai Emery and Villarreal will have a plan to try and shut him down. The outcome of the final could well depend on whether they do so or not. The thought of this man lifting a trophy high into the night for United is one to boil the piss of opposition fans but a scenario United supporters everywhere have dreamed of. 

LW - Paul Pogba

Another certain starter, United are a far better team with Pogba than without him. This could be his last game in the Red of United with the speculation over his future refusing to go away. If it does turn out to be the last we see of him, then what better to bow out than with a trophy and a (nother) winner's medal in his pocket. Despite being a central midfielder by trade, Pogba has been just as effective out on the left and has more than played his part in getting us to this final with his winner in Milan in the last 16. Dovetailing superbly with Fernandes, the pair are a handful for any defence and again will be key to victory.

ST - Edinson Cavani

The veteran Uruguayan is a man in red hot form with 16 goals this season and five in his last three European games so will get the nod to spearhead the attack against former boss Emery. Cavani saved his best performance in the red of United for the semi final against Roma when he scored twice in both games to take the Reds en route to Gdansk. Well rested and a man on a mission, Cavani is the man for the big occasion and will be champing at the bit to finally get his hands on a European trophy. Give it give it give it to Edi Cavani...

Opposition in profile: Villarreal CF

And so it all comes down to this: Manchester United vs Villarreal for Europa League glory at the end of an exhausting and unprecedented 2020-21 season.
After four successive semi-final losses, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side finally broke that jinx and face the Yellow Submarines in Gdansk in our 61st and final game of a campaign squashed into only eight months.

It's been a season of progress for the side, with a second placed finish and 74 points. But to truly underline our upward trajectory, we need a trophy to add to the Old Trafford cabinet. The cupboard has been bare since 2017 - when United won this competition - and although it's not where you want to be, even winning the Europa League could prove to be a springboard and a launchpad for United's exciting mix of youth and experience. 

This will be the Red's eighth European final - of those, five have been won.  Only the might of Barcelona at the peak of their considerable, Pep-Guardiola inspired powers have stopped United in their tracks when Barca may not lie in our way this time, but United face Spanish opponents for the third time in European competition this season.

We got past Real Sociedad 4-0 on aggregate over two legs of our last 32 encounter and brushed aside the rank outsiders of Granada in the last eight by the same scoreline to set up a meeting with the club from the Castellon - a small but relatively successful club led by a familiar face.

United have played Villarreal four times before. We have never beaten them but, curiously, neither have they ever beaten us. Even more intriguing is the truly remarkable stat that each of those past four meetings have ended 0-0. Villarreal played a major part in United's shock early exit from the group stages of the 2005-06 Champions League as a side featuring Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo, Paul Scholes, Rio Ferdinand and Ruud van Nistelrooy et al were twice held to the dullest of stalemates by Manuel Pellegrini's men - although, in mitigation, Villarreal would progress all the way to that year's semi finals where they were beaten by Arsenal. 

The two sides also met three seasons later in the group stage but again United - who would reach the final that year - were again held to a pair of goalless games.
Surely this can't have ever happened before but one thing's for certain this time around - something has to give in Gdansk on Wednesday.

Villarreal have consistently punched above their weight and have had another impressive season in 2020-21. A seventh placed finish in Spain's La Liga is a strong effort for a club of their size but it's in Europe where they have shone. Perhaps almost inevitably, the stage was set for perennial Europa League winner Unai Emery to gain revenge on his former side Arsenal having been sacked and replaced by compatriot Mikel Arteta, and the Europa League master - a winner of this competition three times in a row between 2014 and 2016 - outclassed his rookie successor to dump his ex out of the tournament to set up this meeting with the Reds. 

Emery is not the only familiar face to watch out for in the opposition ranks. Former Watford and Spurs man Etienne Capoue plies his trade for Villarreal, so too ex-Gunner Francis Coquelin, veteran ex-Real Madrid man Raul Albiol, Spurs loanee Juan Foyth and Alberto Moreno, once of Liverpool. Villarreal defender Pau Torres has become linked with a move to Old Trafford as United look to strengthen their backline, and so we will get to see him in the flesh for what could be an audition ahead of a potential summer move. 

Gerard Moreno is the team's top scorer this term with 29 goals in all competitions - he has plundered six goals and grabbed four assists en route to Gdansk -  but he will be without his string-pulling partner in crime Samuel Chukwueze with the absence of the scintillating winger a major blow to the Yellow Submarines hopes of a first ever major honour. Paco Alcacer and Carlos Bacca will be vying to get the nod up top alongside the irrepressible Spanish marksman in Emery's preferred 4-4-2 system.  

Despite the fact United will start the final as strong favourites, Villarreal will be dangerous underdogs and have been mightily impressive throughout an unbeaten run to the final. Topping their group section with five wins and a draw, Emery's team dispatched RB Salzburg 4-1 on aggregate, Dynamo Kyiv 4-0 in the last 16 and then 3-1 over two legs over Tottenham's conquerors Dinamo Zagreb before the aforementioned semi final KO of Arsenal. 

Having already despatched of one Premier League heavyweight, Villarreal cannot be underestimated by a United side who are also no stranger to success in Europe's second tier tournament.
The Reds have been installed as favourites to go all the way ever since our ill-fated Champions League campaign came to a painfully premature end. United will look to become only the second English side to win the Europa League title having dropped out of the elite competition - Chelsea were the first, and so far only, side to do so in 2013.

Solskjaer still has his doubters, and those critics certainly will not be silenced if our trophy drought continues this week, but lifting silverware - any silverware - aloft tomorrow should signal to the dissenting voices that the affable Norwegian is the right man to to restore United to former glories.

The 2013 Norwegian Cup represents Solskjaer's only honour during his relatively brief managerial career to date, and adding to that somewhat modest haul will be no mean feat against Europa League expert Emery - himself looking to steer the Spaniards into a new era with their first ever major trophy 98 years into their existence. 

Match report: Wolves 1-2 Man Utd

 Juan Mata scored the winner on what could be his final United appearance as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's Reds ended the 2020-21 league campaign with victory.
The Reds had long since secured second spot but completed an unbeaten away league season to finish on 74 points, 12 behind City's winning total of 86 and safely in the runners up position. Mata scored from the spot in first half stoppage time after Nelson Semedo had cancelled out Anthony Elanga's opener.

With Wednesday's Europa League final on the horizon, there were ten changes to the XI at Molineux with Axel Tuanzebe the only player to keep his place from the draw with Fulham. Daniel James returned to the team with Amad, Elanga, Brandon William and Donny van de Beek all given starts in a weak, young and much changed line up. 

Wolves manager Nuno Espirito Santo somewhat surprisingly announced his departure on Friday, and fans returned to give their popular boss a heroic send off after seven years in charge - in which he has taken the Old Gold club from the lower reaches of the second tier to a European quarter-final. 
Santo is the hot favourite to become the next Tottenham manager and has taken the west Midlands side as far as he can. After a stale and injury-ravaged campaign, Wolves finish in 13th place. 

19-year-old Elanga had shown glimpses of his sparkling talent against Leicester on his debut earlier in the month, and the Swede was soon at the heart of things again. In a bright United start, Elanga narrowly failed to connect with a superb Alex Telles cross, before he blasted over the bar from close range after good work by the returning James. Like United, Wolves had nothing to play but would have wanted to deliver the perfect send-off for Santo. Traore almost did just that inside two minutes but dragged his shot across goal and wide inside the opening five minutes. 

Having already gone close twice, Elanga brilliantly put United ahead on 13 minutes when he thumped home a superb header for his first senior goal after being picked out by James. 

van de Beek flashed a shot wide and Amad forced a save from Rui Patricio, but the hosts equalised against the run of play five minutes before the break. The ball deflected into Fabio Silva and he moved it on to Semedo. He in turn fired on goal and beat Henderson at the near post, albeit with the aid of a deflection.

It was the Portuguese player's (is there any other kind at Wolves) first goal for the club but no sooner had they hit back than the hosts were on the back foot again. 
United went close twice in quick succession as Patricio saved from Williams and Telles then volleyed over on the follow up from close range in a good response from Solskjaer's men.

That was not the end of the first half drama though. van de Beek went down under a challenge from Roman Saiss as the Wolves defender left his trailing leg out to trip the Dutchman as he shaped to shoot.
Referee Mike Dean somehow failed to spot the foul but, after the now customary VAR check, the decision was overturned and a spot-kick awarded. There could be few arguments as replays showed clear contact on van de Beek by Saiss with the United man clipped on the ankle - a challenge that will bring a spot-kick all day long in the modern game.

In the absence of our usual spot-kick king Bruno Fernandes, Mata stepped up and duly sent the keeper the wrong way to restore United's lead. In the poignant celebrations to follow, our no.8 pointed to the sky in memory of his late mother as he marked what could be a farewell appearance with a goal. Mata's contract is up in the summer and the ageing Spaniard is yet to renew his deal so, after 271 games, there remains uncertainty over his future at the club.

Most of the action came in the first half, with clear cut openings at a premium upon the resumption. Henderson held a header from substitute Willian Jose, but United sprung into action at the other end and should, in truth, have put the game beyond doubt. 
Nemanja Matic found Amad and he in turn released James - clean through one and on and with only Patricio to beat. The Welsh wizard attempted to lob the advancing keeper, but he failed to connect properly with his shot and the ball rolled across goal and wide.

The Reds should have finished the tie as a contest but Wolves would not go quietly as United needed Tuanzebe to preserve his side's lead with 20 minutes to play. Tuanzebe thwarted Fabio Silva with the Wolves man clean through, and the same players were involved again as Tuanzebe twice blocked from Silva to strengthen his claim for inclusion in Wednesday's XI.

An already young United side became even more so when Hannibal Mejbri, 18, came on for his debut on 82 minutes while Shola Shoretire got another late cameo after his senior bow against Newcastle back in February.

There was to be another debut in the final seconds when centre-back Will Fish came on for James as Wolves pushed for a leveller.
Ruben Neves went close with a trademark effort from distance in a spell of late pressure from the hosts, but the Reds had done enough to close out victory and complete an impressive unbeaten season away from home.

All eyes now turn to Villarreal and Gdansk as United look to finish a season of progress with a trophy.

United Faithful Man of the Match: Anthony Elanga. A brilliant header and a constant menace
Overall team performance: 8/10. Superb win and great end to the season with the team we had 

Match report: Manchester United 1-1 Fulham

Edinson Cavani welcomed the return of fans to Old Trafford with a 40 yard stunner before Joe Bryan headed a late equaliser for already relegated Fulham.
But despite the lowly visitors comeback, Chelsea's defeat of Leicester City in the late kick off ensured Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side are now certain of a runners up finish in the Premier League with one game to spare.

For the first time in 14 months and over 400 days, Old Trafford opened its doors as 10,000 spectators returned to the stadium for United's final home game of a breakneck campaign. Solskjaer made three changes as David de Gea, Axel Tuanzebe and Mason Greenwood came in for Dean Henderson, Eric Bailly and Marcus Rashford in an XI that won't be far off the one selected in Gdansk for next week's European final.

Paul Pogba headed over the bar and Cavani then had a penalty appeal waved away when he was pulled down in the box, but referee Lee Mason remained unmoved.
The veteran Uruguayan had spoken of his desire to play in front of fans as the main reason for extending his contract, and he gave the Stretford End a moment to savour with a world class opener in the 15th minute to ultimately get his wish. 

De Gea punted the ball long to find Bruno Fernandes and he flicked the ball on with a deft touch into the path of Cavani, coming back from an offside position. On halfway with only the goalkeeper to beat, Old Trafford erupted as the striker sent a stunning, sumptuous lob over the backpedalling Alphonse Areola from fully 40 yards to put the Reds in front - his sixteenth of the season and an 18th assist of the campaign for newly crowned Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year Fernandes. 

Mason Greenwood headed over and Fernandes tested Areola from distance but Fulham - despite their lowly status - carried an intermittent threat at the other end. Fabio Carvalho was snuffed out by Fred but the 18-year-old caused problems with his pace and went close on the half hour mark when he gave Victor Lindelof the slip and fired on goal, but De Gea was equal to the teenager's effort.

Fernandes was denied by Areola and Luke Shaw - the club's Players' Player of the Year - skied his shot high and wide in the final action of a first half in which United dominated. 

The pattern of the game continued after the interval with string-puller in chief Fernandes the main instigator of everything United did. Areola saved well to keep out the Portuguese playmaker's curling free-kick and the same player flashed another shot wide from distance as, despite their superiority, the lack of a Reds killer edge saw Scott Parker's strugglers gain in confidence.

The capital club served notice of their intent on the hour mark when a superb double save from De Gea kept United's lead intact. First, he got a hand to Ademola Lookman's attempt at the near post before the Spaniard clawed away Carvalho's header on the rebound from point blank range.

Fernandes had another set-piece held by Areola after intricate trickery from substitute Marcus Rashford and Greenwood fired over soon afterwards having been put through by Cavani.

The Reds were ultimately made to pay for their profligacy and were pegged back as the Cottagers struck at the Stretford End with 15 minutes to play. Bobby De Cordova - Reid picked out the onrushing Bryan at the back post and he nodded home beyond De Gea as VAR allowed the goal to stand following a lengthy VAR check.

Cavani headed wide and Mario Lemina blocked from Fred as Solskjaer threw on Amad and Donny van de Beek, but the Reds were unable to carve out a trademark late winner in front of the Old Trafford faithful.

United's status as definite runners up was later confirmed when Chelsea beat Leicester - the only team whom could have caught us - at Stamford Bridge to move into third.

Overall team performance: 6/10
United Faithful Man of the Match: Edinson Cavani. Give it give it give it!