Ole's rebuild mission laid bare by Europa agony

GDANSK, Poland－Manchester United's gut-wrenching defeat on penalties to Villarreal in the Europa League final reemphasized the magnitude of the rebuilding task for manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at Old Trafford.

Exactly 22 years to the day since the Norwegian struck his famous winner for United in the Champions League final against Bayern Munich, he was made to swallow a bitter pill after watching his side lose a match it largely controlled while, crucially, lacking bite.

David de Gea bowed his head after missing the decisive spot-kick, having seen the first 21 successfully converted, but Solskjaer's refusal to make a change until the 100th minute suggested little faith in a bench that included his injured captain Harry Maguire.

After steering United to successive top-three finishes in the Premier League for the first time since Alex Ferguson retired as champion in 2013, Solskjaer had earmarked the final in Gdansk as the "stepping stone for something better to come".

Despite clearing the semifinal hurdle at the fifth attempt with a 6-2 aggregate win over Roma, Solskjaer's side mustered just two attempts on target against Villarreal, organized superbly by Europa League maestro Unai Emery.

While United has moved forward each year under Solskjaer, at least in terms of league position, since his appointment in December 2018, catching Pep Guardiola's Manchester City next season still appears a distant prospect.

"It's not a successful season and those are the fine margins in football. Sometimes one kick can define a season as successful or a good one, and it can define it as not one," said Solskjaer. "Trophies matter and that's what matters at this club."

The 11-10 loss on penalties came after a 1-1 draw following extra time and extended United's four-year run without a trophy－the club's longest since the 1980s in the early days of the Ferguson era.

Transfer targets

Solskjaer has been forced to drown out the critics and naysayers while reconstructing a team that hasn't properly challenged for the title in almost a decade.

"I've been delighted with the effort, determination and desire of the players. We've probably done as well as anyone could imagine but we need to do better," said Solskjaer, whose side has been linked with a summer move for Tottenham forward Harry Kane.

"Two or three players to strengthen the starting XI and squad altogether is important for us to go further and improve."

Solskjaer overcame the disappointment of a Champions League group exit to lead United to the top of the table in January, despite having overseen the club's worst home start in 48 years.

United became just the fourth team to go through an English topflight campaign undefeated away from home, indicating the progress that is being made under the 48-year-old's guidance.

"We need to use that disappointment. It is the worst feeling, these are the moments you remember most in your career as a player and a manager," said Solskjaer.

"You can either go on holiday and do nothing about it, or go home and come back and do better, come back hungrier."

Marcus Rashford, one of three players who started United's 2017 Europa League final victory over Ajax, vowed the pain of defeat would drive the team on even more next season.

"Second doesn't count for nothing," the England international told BT Sport.

"I don't want to hear 'they were so close' because it means nothing. One winner, one loser. Today we lost. We have to find out why and make sure next time we don't lose.

"We have to get rid of the disappointment and look back at the game and see what we did wrong.

"The team will not give up－no chance. The manager won't allow us to give up. We will come next season with bigger desire."

The Emery League

For Villarreal coach Emery it was a record fourth Europa League title, and it offered a measure of redemption following his ill-fated spell at Arsenal.

Emery was hoisted aloft by his players before they received their medals. He won three Europa League titles in a row with Sevilla from 2014-16 and lost the 2019 final with Arsenal against Chelsea.

Emery was fired by the Gunners six months after that defeat, but said Thursday's win was "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 learned a lot, met many people, other cultures and football", said the 49-year-old Spaniard.

"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 learned a lot to win this one maybe."

Villarreal, which finished seventh in La Liga this term, had help from another former Arsenal employee, midfielder Francis Coquelin.

"It feels really good. It's been a very tough competition. What an end," the 30-year-old Frenchman told BT Sport.

"We didn't manage to get to the Champions League through the league so to get through with our first title is amazing.

"Obviously to beat them in the final was something special. We will try to celebrate (despite COVID-19 restrictions) because it's something special for the club."

AFP