UEL Final: We didn’t turn up… we can’t call season a success – Solskjaer
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer admitted his Manchester United side “didn’t turn up” in Wednesday’s Europa League final defeat to Villarreal, and says their season cannot be labelled a success.
United were beaten in a dramatic penalty shootout after the game had finished 1-1, with David de Gea missing the crucial spot-kick after all 21 other players had found the net.
Solskjaer’s men controlled much of the game but struggled to create any clear cut chances against a resolute Villarreal side, Edinson Cavani’s equalising goal coming only after Marcus Rashford’s shot had deflected fortuitously into his path.
“It’s quiet of course [in the dressing room], its disappointing,” Solskjaer told BT Sport. “That’s football for you, sometimes it’s decided on one kick and that’s the difference between win and losing, we’ve got to learn from that one. We’ve got to – not savour this feeling – but taste this feeling and make sure you don’t get it again.
2016: Liverpool lose UEL Final
2018: Liverpool lose UCL Final
2019: Liverpool win UCL Final
2021: Man Utd lose UEL Final
2022: ?Football is about the journey, setbacks are inevitable, it's all about how you bounce back…
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's Man Utd will be back stronger 👊 pic.twitter.com/hENOpwLPzz
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) May 26, 2021
Read Also: BREAKING: Villarreal win Europa League after beating Man United in final
“We didn’t turn up, we didn’t play as well as we know we can do. We started alright, they got the goal with the only shot they had on target, of course it’s disappointing that we conceded on a set piece.
“After we scored we didn’t control the game and dominate as well as we wanted.
“That’s football at times, they made it hard for us, difficult. We obviously the had the majority of the possession but they defended well and we didn’t create enough big chances.”