Ajax 0-2 Manchester United: Paul Pogba and Henrikh Mkhitaryan strike as Jose Mourinho's men win Europa League to book Champions League spot
- Manchester United have won the Europa League after defeating Dutch opposition Ajax in Stockholm
- United struck first, Paul Pogba's shot deflecting in from outside the area past Ajax goalkeeper Andre Onana
- Henrikh Mkhitaryan doubled United's lead immediately after the second-half restart from a corner
- The victory means United have booked a spot in next season's Champions League tournament
- A minute's silence was held prior to kick-off to pay respect to those involved in the tragedy in Manchester
- Europa League final, Manchester United 2-0 Ajax: Follow the action as it happened
- PICTURE SPECIAL: United celebrate Europa heroics as Jose Mourinho shares special moment with his son
The index finger said it all. No 1, Jose Mourinho, seemed to be saying, and with some feeling, too. Still No 1.
And while Zinedine Zidane may beg to differ, and Massimiliano Allegri at Juventus, or even Antonio Conte for that matter, what is indisputable is that, on this occasion at least, Mourinho got it all right on the night.
The mood, the strategy, the selections, the plan. Mourinho said the Europa League represented Manchester United's safest route to Europe's biggest tournament next season, and he was vindicated here in Stockholm.
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The delighted Manchester United players celebrate with the Europa League trophy after beating Ajax in the final
United captain Wayne Rooney, who came on as a substitute, holds the trophy as his team celebrate their latest triumph
Jose Mourinho, the Old Trafford manager, is held aloft by his coaching staff following the full-time whistle at Friends Arena
Mourinho performs a No 1 salute with his finger after leading the club to a Europa League triumph in his debut season at club
The match-winning United stars pose with a banner as they pay their respects to the victims of this week's Manchester attack
Henrikh Mkhitaryan (left) and Paul Pogba celebrate rapturously as the Armenian doubles United's lead in Stockholm
Mkhitaryan looks on as his flicked effort makes its way into the roof of the Ajax goal to put the Red Devils two goals ahead
Armenia ace Mkhitaryan wheels away in celebration knowing he has given his side a comfortable margin in the clash
Ajax goalkeeper Andre Onana topples back into his goal after being wrong-footed by Pogba's early deflected effort
Pogba roars in celebration after breaking the deadlock in the European final, as Antonio Valenica (left) heads over to join him
The Frenchman points to the skies after putting his side in the driving seat in the clash with his 18th-minute goal
MATCH FACTS, PLAYER RATINGS AND MATCH ZONE
AJAX (4-3-3): Onana 6; Veltman 5.5, Sanchez 6, De Ligt 6.5, Riedewald 6 (De Jong, 82); Ziyech 6, Schone 5.5 (Van de Beek, 70), Klaassen 6; Traore 7, Dolberg 5.5 (Neres, 61) Younes 6.5
SUBS NOT USED: Tete, Westermann, Boer, Kluivert
BOOKINGS: Veltman, Younes, Riedewald
MANAGER: Peter Bosz 6.5
MANCHESTER UNITED (4-3-3): Romero 6; Valencia 7.5, Smalling 7, Blind 8, Darmian 6.5; Herrera 7, Fellaini 7, Pogba 7.5; Mata 7 (Rooney, 89), Rashford 6.5 (Martial, 83), Mkhitaryan 6.5 (Lingard, 74)
SUBS NOT USED: De Gea, Fosu-Mensah, Jones, Carrick
BOOKINGS: Fellaini, Mkhitaryan, Mata
GOALS: Pogba 18, Mkhitaryan 47
MANAGER: Jose Mourinho 7
REFEREE: Damir Skomina 7
MAN OF THE MATCH: Daley Blind
ATTENDANCE: 46,961
Player ratings by Joe Bernstein
How Paul Pogba opened the scoring for Manchester United with a long-range, deflected strike. FOR ALL INFORMATION, STATS AND GRAPHICS FROM MATCH ZONE CLICK HERE.
This was as straightforward as any European fixture has been for United all season; more comfortable than many trophies in their glorious history. Mourinho's team were assured and much superior to a callow Ajax; they were two goals clear after 48 minutes and in control long before that.
The fear, that the emotion of a traumatic week for the city might overwhelm United's players, did not materialise. They did the job of professionals, exercising their physical superiority over an Ajax team that looked younger than their years, if that was indeed possible. In doing so, they became the fifth Premier League team to enter the Champions League next season, qualifiers permitting.
It is a great achievement for a competition often depicted as inferior. Yet United have deserved this, slogging their way across Europe. They are worthy champions, and worthy winners on the night.
The Europa League — and its various predecessors — is the only major competition the club has not won and Mourinho took great pleasure completing that circle. He tried to plant a flag on the pitch, but settled for planting the trophy and posing for a defiant portrait instead. His son, Jose junior, exploded out of the crowd and bowled him over in celebration. After so many scowls of late, he looked genuinely happy.
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The Manchester United players make their way out on to the Friends Arena pitch ahead of their crunch European showdown
A general view inside the Stockholm venue as the two teams observe a minute's silence for victims of the Manchester attack
The players gathered on the edge of the centre circle to pay their respects before kick-off in this Europa League final
Rooney (centre), the Manchester United captain, had to settle for a place on the bench on Wednesday evening
Manchester United manager Mourinho pictured on the Friends Arena touchline as kick-off edged closer in Sweden
His team will benefit from this experience, too. They have the potential to be a force in Europe next season, led by a manager who is still the best at setting up for an individual game. That is what he did here. Ajax are a fine young side; but this was a schooling from an old master. Mourinho has now played 14 finals and won 12 of them. Considering that Jurgen Klopp is still waiting for his first victory in similar conditions it is an incredible record.
And this has been a good season, all things considered. Whatever disappointments there have been in the league will be forgotten now. The challenge for Mourinho was to return United to the Champions League and he did it; and nobody said he could not nominate the route.
He has won two trophies — he will say three, because he includes the Community Shield —and that is an impressive strike rate, too. It looks like the start of something good, have no doubt of that.
It was not just his judgement on the strength of the Europa League that was vindicated, either. His calls on personnel produced hit after hit.
During the opening stages of the game, Ajax enjoyed the better of possession - pictured is Juan Mata looking to win the ball
Joel Veltman of Ajax collides with his goallkeeper Onana during the early stages of the Dutch side's clash with United
Amin Younes attempts to weave his way through midfield but is closed down by Ander Herrera and Mata
Pogba lets fly with a speculative effort in the 18th minute which fortunately gave United the lead in Sweden
Onana, the Ajax keeper, was wrong-footed and could do nothing to stop Pogba's deflected effort hitting the back of the net
France international Pogba is mobbed by his delighted team-mates after giving them the lead in their European final
Paul Pogba, his big ticket summer signing, has come off in the second half of this campaign. He scored the first, and has gradually improved. He will be good next season, just wait.
Marouane Fellaini, another controversial selection at times, was excellent, playing in a very advanced role that caused Ajax no end of problems at the back.
Chris Smalling, in for the suspended Eric Bailly and preferred to Phil Jones, was excellent and won everything in the air.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan scored a vital second goal three minutes into the second half, when just about every professional analyst was calling for his withdrawal at half-time.
In goal, Sergio Romero did not put a foot wrong, proving Mourinho was right to keep faith with him ahead of David de Gea. Not that he was greatly tested, mind you. When Ajax striker Kasper Dolberg kicked off for the restart after United's opening goal in the 18th minute, it was the first time he had touched the ball all game.
Herrera slides in to expertly dispossess Davy Klaassen and quell danger for United in the early stages
Big Belgian Marouane Fellaini sets about imposing his stature in midfield as the two teams went in search for silverware
Ajax players look on as they concede a second goal immediately following the second-half restart through Mkhitaryan
Both goalscorers race to the corner with arms outstretched after United took to the second half with electric pace
Referee Damir Skomina steps in to separate Klaassen and Herrera and dispel tensions in the latter stages
Mourinho even did the noble thing and introduced Wayne Rooney with two minutes remaining, in what may be his farewell United appearance. He took the armband and lifted the trophy. If it is his end in a United shirt, it was a fitting one.
Ultimately, the youth of the Ajax group told. They looked smaller than United, not just physically but in presence, too. They got muscled off the ball, they lost out in the air, they were eased into touch or simply hassled into error. It was boys against men. United looked like they knew how to win a major football match, Ajax as if they were still waiting for that lesson. Maybe next term.
It helped that United were, quite literally, bigger. Ajax do not possess physical specimens like Pogba or Fellaini. Bertrand Traore was closest to it, but he is on loan from Chelsea and surely not for much longer. He was the one player capable of troubling United, but was too often isolated.
The game was only 30 seconds old when Ajax showed the first sign of nerves. Goalkeeper Andre Onana made a hash of a simple ball into the box, colliding with team-mate Joel Veltman. Pogba tried his luck from the edge of the area, amid the confusion, but missed. Onana never looked wholly comfortable after that, although chances were few.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who missed the final due to a knee injury, speaks to Pogba following the full-time whistle on Wednesday
It's party time at the Friends Arena in Stockholm as Rooney and his team-mates celebrate with their trophy on the pitch
Pogba, not one to shy away from a camera, poses in front of photographers after starring in United's triumph over Ajax
Mourinho kisses the Europa League trophy after landing his second major piece of silverware of the season with United
United's injured players including Marcos Rojo (left), Ashley Young (second right) and Luke Shaw (right) joined the party
Fellaini takes centre stage as he holds the piece of silverware which secured United a place in the Champions League
The dejected Ajax players look heartbroken on the Friends Arena pitch after being beaten by their Premier League opponents
Indeed, Ajax were coming into it just a little when United scored. It was a goal that came with a giant dollop of good fortune. United had possession around the Ajax box but to little effect, Fellaini finally pushing the ball to Pogba, for a shot.
He tried one, not his best, but it struck the inside of Davinson Sanchez's leg and completely wrong-footed Onana. The goalkeeper always looks bad in these situations and some will feel Onana should have reacted quicker, but the change in trajectory went against all his expectations. He was left grasping at air, United off celebrating a handy break.
On the bench, Mourinho suppressed his joy. As his staff leapt up, he stayed seated, eventually raising his eyes to the heavens. Whether in relief or something more spiritual, who knows? It has been a difficult week for his club, and his adopted city. The fans sensed that, too. They sung about Manchester as much as they ever did United, acknowledging that this was bigger than just their club.
If Ajax hoped to regroup after half-time that plan was scuppered just three minutes into the second half. Daley Blind took a corner, won by Smalling and then flicked on with his back to goal by Mkhitaryan. He has scored 11 goals for United all season, six in this competition. He clearly likes the Europa League and so did United. They appeared entirely at home here, despite the pressure, and for all the yearning.
Ultimately, It was a very Mourinho-like performance. Professionalism, not raw emotion, won the night.
The stands soon become adorned with Manchester United flags as the Red Devils supporters fill their allocated section
A Manchester United fan calls for the players to 'do it for Manchester' after Monday night's terror attack in the city
A minute's silence is taken prior to kick-off to honour the victims of the terrorist attack in Manchester on Monday
The Ajax players also respectfully observed the minute's silence prior to kick off at the Europa League final
The United players all wore black armbands to pay their respects to the 22 people who died and the 59 injured in the attack
Injured striker Ibrahimovic turned up with his Manchester United team-mates, watching on from the side with crutches
A heightened police and security presence patrol the exterior of the stadium ahead of the Europa League final in Stockholm
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-4539134/Manchester-United-news-Red-Devils-win-Europa-League.html#ixzz4i2wkMfMU
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