Solskjaer’s Manchester United rebuild mission laid bare by Europa League agony

After steering United to successive top-three finishes in the Premier League, Solskjaer had earmarked the final in Gdansk as the ‘stepping stone for something better to come’

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Manchester United players react after losing the Uefa Europa League final against Villarreal in Gdansk, Poland. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 11:22am, 27 May 2021Updated: 11:22am, 27 May 2021

Manchester United’s gut-wrenching defeat on penalties by Villarreal in the Europa League final re-emphasised the magnitude of the rebuilding task for coach and club hero 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 they 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 semi-final hurdle at the fifth attempt with a high-scoring win over Roma, Solskjaer’s side mustered just two attempts on target against Villarreal, organised superbly by Europa League maestro Unai Emery.