MANCHESTER UNITED are digesting the bitter taste of defeat after losing to Villarreal on penalties in the Europa League final.
There are questions to be answered for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as the Red Devils put in an under-par performance in Gdansk with the Yellow Submarine winning the tie on spot kicks.
Meanwhile, we've the very latest on Youri Tielemans plus an update on David De Gea's future.
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- Jake Lambourne
WAN OF A KIND
Former Manchester United and England star Andrew Cole believes that Aaron Wan-Bissaka was unlucky not to make Gareth Southgate’s provisional 33-man Euro 2020 squad.
He told talkSPORT 2: “When anyone gets mentioned regarding the right-back position, they always say they’re not sure about players defensively, especially Alexander-Arnold.
“Wan-Bissaka is the opposite. Defensively, he’s brilliant.
“Going forward, he doesn’t attack as good as he rest of the boys.
“But defensively, he’s up there with the best of them.”
- Jake Lambourne
OLE TRAFFORD
Hear what Olle Gunnar Solskjaer had to say following the Europa League final defeat.
- Jake Lambourne
KEEP SAKE
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has explained why he did not replace David De Gea with Dean Henderson ahead of last night’s penalty shootout defeat to Villarreal.
Not only did stopper De Gea fail to save a single one of Villarreal’s efforts, he was also the unfortunate one to miss as the LaLiga outfit claimed the prize.
That continued De Gea’s poor penalty record – which now stands at 36 without a save.
Speaking of why De Gea stayed on, Solskjaer said: "You go through every scenario, of course. And it had crossed my mind in the build-up to the game but we were confident in David and prepared.
Anything can happen in a penalty shootout. I stuck with the 'keeper who played all of the game.
“I've got to say the penalty shootout was high quality, but we didn't do enough in the 120 minutes to score more goals and that's the disappointing bit.
“We had pressure, we had moments where we felt if we can just kick on a little bit now we can get a goal. But we just couldn't.”
- Jake Lambourne
A GOOD EBENING
Unai Emery has credited losing with Arsenal in the 2019 Europa League final as a key factor as to how Villarreal beat Man Utd last night.
Speaking after the Europa League final victory in Gdansk, he said: "I believe it’s not a sporting revenge at all. I try to enjoy every moment, winning and losing.
"I try to create new circumstances, so everywhere I have been, even in England at Arsenal, I have learnt a lot, met many people, other cultures and football.
"At the end of that story was professional frustration, but some other doors opened then.
"Winning today is a satisfaction, but for my club today, as it was when I was at Sevilla.
"When I was at Arsenal, we played a Europa League final and could not win but it is a process, from that game I learnt a lot to win this one maybe."
- Jake Lambourne
SPOT OF BOTHER
Man Utd legend Paul Scholes has hit out at David De Gea after his penalty heartache.
The Spaniard conceded 11 of Villarreal's spot-kicks before missing his own as United failed to end their four-year wait for silverware.
De Gea, 30, has now failed to save a penalty for five years with his last coming against Everton in the 2016 FA Cup semi-final. That record extends to 38 penalties without making a save.
Speaking to BT Sport, Scholes said: "Once you get to penalties, anything can happen, we know that.
“I always feel a little bit worried, being an Englishman, that we're going to be on the wrong side of it.
"But I have to say, David – we spoke about his record before it – he didn't look like saving a penalty.
“They got a little bit lucky with Luke Shaw's penalty as well. It's a difficult night to take, but give Villarreal credit."
- Jake Lambourne
PAUL THE OTHER ONE
Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes slammed the side as seeming to 'accept losing'.
He said: "Does losing hurt them enough? It has almost become an accepted thing.
"Where is the demand on Ole? I don't think they will saying he has to win a trophy. He has made progress.
"For now, I don't think the demand is there on him."
While Scholes was critical of United's big flop in Gdansk, fellow United legend Rio Ferdinand believes Solskjaer now needs supporting in the transfer market.
He added: "I think he has done enough even with this result to have a summer transfer window and go into next season.
"I think next season the demand needs to be there to win trophies because that is what this club is built on."
Bruno Fernandes was overcome with emotion at the end of a dramatic tie - Jake Lambourne
SOL DESTROYING
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has urged his deflated troops to 'taste the defeat' after they lost the Europa League final against Villarreal.
He said: "We've got to, not savour this one, but taste this feeling and make sure we don't get it again.
"It's quiet [in the dressing room] of course. It's a disappointed dressing room. That's football for you. Sometimes it's decided on one kick and that's the difference between winning and losing. Got to learn from that one.
"Now is not the time to point the finger at what I'd have done differently. But when you come out without the trophy you haven't done everything right.
"We're getting closer and closer and better. We were one kick away from a trophy and a good night.
"We have to have the desire to come back next year and improve. The only way to get the margins your side is to work harder and better. Can Manchester United call this season a success? No."
- Jake Lambourne
RACISM STORM
Marcus Rashford has claimed he was subjected to 'at least 70 racial slurs' online including from a 'maths teacher' after defeat to Villarreal.
Rashford played every minute of the Europa League final, which went to penalties after a 1-1 draw.
He tweeted: "At least 70 racial slurs on my social accounts counted so far.
"For those working to make me feel any worse than I already do, good luck trying.
"I’m more outraged that one of the abusers that left a mountain of monkey emojis in my DM is a maths teacher with an open profile.
"He teaches children!! And knows that he can freely racially abuse without consequence…"
- Alex Terrell
LICKING THEIR WOUNDS
Manchester United star Marcus Rashford was not interested in any Euros talk in a rousing interview on BT Sport.
The Old Trafford striker told fans 'second isn't good enough' after their disappointing penalty shootout defeat to Villarreal last night.
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- Jack Figg
GOOD MORNING UNITED FANS
David de Gea’s penalty miss consigned the Red Devils to a dramatic Europa League final loss to Villarreal.
Unai Emery’s side won 11-0 on penalties, with every player on the pitch bar De Gea scoring.
Gerard Moreno had given Villarreal the lead against the run of play on the half hour mark, after being lost by Luke Shaw and evading Victor Lindelof.
Solskjaer cajoled his side at the break, and his side were soon level.
Edinson Cavani was in the right place at the right time, as he so often is, to prod the Red Devils level in the 55th minute.
No one could snatch a winner within 90 minutes, however, and the match went to extra time in Gdansk.
The match meandered on, with both goalkeepers rarely tested.
And it then went to a marathon penalty shoot-out, with every penalty going in before De Gea’s tame kick was denied by Geronimo Rulli.
Meanwhile on the transfer front, Tottenham will demand £200million for Harry Kane this summer, according to reports.
United, rivals City and Chelsea are all interested in signing the England skipper but Daniel Levy won’t make it easy.
According to The Independent, the 59-year-old will demand ‘at least’ £200m to ‘even consider’ letting his side’s No10 go.
Levy even values Kane as more important to the club than Gareth Bale was in 2013, prior to his then world record move to Real Madrid.
But the Indy also claim that Levy’s stance isn’t as ‘sure-footed’ as before – because of the financial pressures brought about by the pandemic, as well as Spurs’ new stadium.
And finally, United legend Gary Pallister thinks his former club should sign Borussia Dortmund star Jadon Sancho this summer.
He told SBK sportsbook: “That right-hand side has been a problem for United all season.
“Sancho is exciting and had a great time in Germany scoring goals and getting assists.
“He looked as though he was going to come in last season but Dortmund played hardball and it didn’t get over the line. I think he’s eager to come… a real no-brainer.
“He’s the type of player that would excite the United fans next season. These kinds of players are going to cost a pretty penny and that’s the worrying thing.
“After the pandemic and the way clubs have been hit I don’t know whether you can afford to bring in two massive signings like Harry Kane and Sancho.”
- Joe Brophy
DAVE CAN'T SAVE
David de Gea's penalty miss consigned Manchester United to a dramatic Europa League final loss to Villarreal.
Unai Emery's side won 11-0 on penalties, with every player on the pitch bar De Gea scoring.
Gerard Moreno had given Villarreal the lead against the run of play on the half hour mark, after being lost by Luke Shaw and evading Victor Lindelof.
Solskjaer cajoled his side at the break, and his side were soon level.
Edinson Cavani was in the right place at the right time, as he so often is, to prod the Red Devils level in the 55th minute.
No one could snatch a winner within 90 minutes, however, and the match went to extra time in Gdansk.
The match meandered on, with both goalkeepers rarely tested.
And it then went to a marathon penalty shoot-out, with every penalty going in before De Gea's tame kick was denied by Geronimo Rulli.
- Joe Brophy
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Manchester United stars were given some last-minute nuggets of advice by club legend Sir Alex Ferguson before Wednesday's Europa League final with Villarreal.
The 79-year-old has flown out to Gdansk in Poland to cheer on the current crop of Red Devils.
- Joe Brophy
FT: UNITED 1 VILLARREAL 1
Edinson Cavani's second-half strike has sent the final to extra-time!
- Joe Brophy
MAKING HIS MARC
Rio Ferdinand has praised Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford for campaigning against child hunger.
Speaking to ITV’s Robert Peston, Ferdinand said: “I think Marcus has done remarkably well.
“I think he’s a young man who is really showing the way for a lot of the young players and people in society that if you believe in something, and you have a platform, you have a voice, and you have the ability to really transcend and change things.
“And even going up against the establishment, almost, they did that with confidence and he got the backing of the nation, and listen, you have to understand as well, it was a cause that was worthwhile.
“In the end Boris Johnson came around and understood that right thing to do was to follow Marcus’s lead and that’s an unbelievable achievement.”
- Joe Brophy
HT: UNITED 0 VILLARREAL 1
A dominant first half from the Red Devils in terms of possessions but a sucker-punch from Gerard Moreno has given the Spaniards the advantage.
- Joe Brophy
GUNNAR BE GREAT
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer hopes Europa League glory will kick-start another trophy-laden era at Manchester United.
He said: “These are big nights for us. We have five wins in Europe and it might be the stepping stone for something better to come, a bright future.
“This is a young team and it’s a team we have rebuilt over the last couple of years, so hopefully this is the start of something more.
“When players get the taste of success and win trophies, it can go two ways – ‘We’ve done it now and we can relax’ or it just gives you more of that feeling.
“You want more, you want it all the time, you want the feeling again with your team-mates, with your club.
“I trust these players. I’ve seen something grow inside them – more and more confident, more robust, resilient – and as a group, I’m confident we’re ready for this now.”
- Joe Brophy
DONNA GET HIM
AC Milan have confirmed contract-rebel keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma has left the club.
The 22-year-old stopper's deal runs out next month and the Italian have refused to match his wage demands after drawn-out talks.
Milan technical director Paolo Maldini told reporters: "He [Donnarumma] has been a protagonist of this season.
"It's getting more and more difficult to find players who start in a team and always end up staying.
"The roads with Gigio are splitting, I can only wish him the best."
Former wonderkid Donnarumma has been linked with several top European clubs, including Premier League giants Manchester United and Chelsea.
- Joe Brophy
TEAM NEWS
Luke Shaw and Marcus Rashford are both starting for Manchester United tonight ahead of joining England’s Euro Squad next week.
And in a huge boost to Gareth Southgate and the Three Lions, Harry Maguire is fit enough for the bench.
Check out all the action with SunSport's Live Blog HERE.
- Joe Brophy
DOR OPEN
Manchester United legend Gary Pallister thinks his former club should sign Borussia Dortmund star Jadon Sancho this summer.
He told SBK sportsbook: "That right-hand side has been a problem for United all season.
"Sancho is exciting and had a great time in Germany scoring goals and getting assists.
"He looked as though he was going to come in last season but Dortmund played hardball and it didn’t get over the line. I think he’s eager to come… a real no-brainer.
"He’s the type of player that would excite the United fans next season. These kinds of players are going to cost a pretty penny and that’s the worrying thing.
"After the pandemic and the way clubs have been hit I don’t know whether you can afford to bring in two massive signings like Harry Kane and Sancho."
- Joe Brophy
LEV IT TO ME
Tottenham will demand £200million for Harry Kane this summer, according to reports.
Manchester City, United and Chelsea are all interested in signing the England skipper but Daniel Levy won't make it easy.
According to The Independent, the 59-year-old will demand 'at least' £200m to 'even consider' letting his side's No10 go.
Levy even values Kane as more important to the club than Gareth Bale was in 2013, prior to his then world record move to Real Madrid.
But the Indy also claim that Levy's stance isn't as 'sure-footed' as before – because of the financial pressures brought about by the pandemic, as well as Spurs' new stadium.
- Joe Brophy
WET HIS BEEK
Manchester United star Donny van de Beek has been named in the Netherlands' Euro 2021 squad!
- Joe Brophy
DIALL TONE
Manchester United fans have been left excited by footage of Amad Diallo making the beautiful game look easy in training.
- Joe Brophy
FANDEMONIUM
Manchester United fans have been getting into the party spirit in Gdansk ahead of tonight’s Europa League final.
The Red Devils will be backed by 2,000 travelling supporters from England tonight, as they face Villarreal in the Baltic city.
And as fans starved of European travel have arrived in the city, they’ve been quick to revel in the adventure and have a good time.
A great number have been seen enjoying Gdansk’s bars.
And no shortage of pints have been consumed in the city centre.
- Joe Brophy
IN THE FOXHOLE
Manchester United have been handed a boost in the race to land Youri Tielemans after Leicester reportedly agreed a deal for his replacement Boubakary Soumare.
Belgium international Tielemans has been voted the Foxes’ player of the season and SunSport revealed he is set for talks over a new contract.
But reports in Belgium claim Liverpool have targeted former Anderlecht and Monaco ace Tielemans to replace Gini Wijnaldum.
United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is also credited with an interest in signing £50million-rated Tielemans.
Leicester have now secured an ideal replacement if the Belgian quits the King Power Stadium – by tying up a £20m deal for French ace Soumare.
- Dylan Terry
WAN-BISSAKA ON SHAW'S IMPRESSIVE FORM
Manchester United defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka has praised fellow Red Devils full-back Luke Shaw ahead of their Europa League final clash with Villarreal tonight.
He told the club website:
“Luke has been the stand-out for me
.“His performances push me to compete with him, to get the best out of all of us.
“He’s been positive throughout, making the most out of every game. He’s not taken his foot off the pedal, he’s kept going, pushed himself until the whistle goes. That’s good. He helps the team as well.”
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