We all knew for the last few months of the season that it was going to be ‘Bilbao or Bust’. With our dismal league campaign, Manchester United knew they had everything to play for in the Europa League final. With victory, it would have secured Champions League football for next season and would have provided Ruben Amorim some relief and to his players too. However, the final nail in the coffin was driven in as United lost 1-0 to Tottenham Hotspur as it would be a defensive error costing us in the end.
Lacked quality in the final third
As the game began, the first opportunity would fall to United when Rasmus Højlund recovered a lost ball away from the Spurs goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario and then played it towards Bruno Fernandes who worked an angle to shoot but his effort hit teammate Mason Mount.
The Reds had settled into a rhythm but Tottenham soon found their feet during the game when Brennan Johnson won the ball high up the pitch. He forced Andre Onana into the save with Harry Maguire blocking Pape Sarr follow-up effort. They had another chance through Richarlison but it came to nothing. United were then in the opposition’s 18 yard box with Maguire involved in the action. A corner came in with the ball coming to the defender via Vicario’s fingertip touch. He laid it off to Amad, who got away from the opposition player but this effort went wide of the goal.
Amad was proving a constant threat down the flanks and in the central areas in the first half hour of the game. He received a free kick from Fernandes driving the ball forward, getting past Destiny Udogie before the Ivorian cross was cleared by Johnson.
As we approached half time, United were to be hit by a sucker punch as Tottenham swung the momentum to score the opening goal. Pape Sarr’s cross into the box was initially missed by Brennan Johnson but got his second chance to put it in the back of the net when the ball came back off Luke Shaw.
United’s attack Fails to Capitalise
We entered the second half with more attacking purpose as we tried to find the equaliser. Amad was providing the creative outlet when his curling cross into the box for Hojlund, who was not able to adjust his body to keep his effort down and on target.
With 20 minutes left to play, there was a double change by Ruben Amorim that saw Alejandro Garnacho and Joshua Zirkzee entering the field of play. Some smart link up from the latter saw Mazraoui cross the ball for Fernandes whose header went just wide of the goal. Garnacho would then test Vicario with a low shot that was parried away from the bottom left corner.
Entering the last ten minutes of the tie, United were just in attack mode throwing everything to find the equaliser. Spurs went into defensive mode bringing on Kevin Danso for goalscorer Brennan Johnson.
With stoppages for injuries and substitutions, time was quickly ebbing away for United but seven minutes of stoppage time came on the fourth official board to give us some hope. The opposition low block remained intact during this period of time. The Reds had one final chance to bring the game level when a cross from the right was met by the head of Luke Shaw and saved by Vicario. Time was called on the game as Spurs saw out the win to take the Europa League trophy and qualification for the Champions League next season.
Player Ratings
Andre Onana – 5. Struggle to help United get any build up in play and had a weak hand in trying to stop Tottenham’s opening goal.
Leny Yoro – 6. Did not have great communication with Onana in the opening stages of the game. Was not able to carry the ball as well as he can do. Maybe rushing him back for the final was to his detriment.
Harry Maguire – 7. Put in a strong display at the back especially in the first half. He would not be able to provide a miracle at the other end of the pitch.
Luke Shaw – 4. Did not look comfortable from the start. Was weak in his effort to get in front of Brennan Johnson before diverting the ball to the near post for Spurs’ opener. Nearly made amends at the end of the game but his header was saved by Vicario.
Noussair Mazaroui – 6. Defended well clearing a ball from Porro and making the perfect tackle on Son. Was not able to get forward to help in the attack.
Casemiro – 5. Put in aggressive tackles but lacked creativity on the ball and was not effective inside the box.
Bruno Fernandes – 5. Could not muster the magic when we needed it the most.
Patrick Dorgu – 5. Was passive for the Tottenham goal, letting Johnson attack the ball. Some positive play down the left but was unable to make much of a difference.
Mason Mount – 5. Offered very little in the first half and should have been hooked off at half time. Taken off for Garnacho in the second half.
Rasmus Højlund – 5. Got hardly any service and the effort he did have was cleared off the line by Van de Ven.
Amad Diallo – 7. United’s only outlet in terms of creativity and threat on goal.
Subs:
Alejandro Garnacho – 6. Provided an immediate threat on Spurs’ defence. Forced Vicario into a fine save.
Joshua Zirkzee – 5. Did not offer much going forward.
Kobbie Mainoo & Diogo Dalot – N/A
Looking ahead
We have one Premier League fixture left to play on Sunday at home against Aston Villa and then this season is finally over.