The Red Devils again squandered a number of chances as their Europa League dreams came to an end by Julen Lopetegui’s side in Cologne
If Manchester United have learned anything from their last two Europa League matches of the campaign, then it’s worth taking the chances you create.
Against both FC Copenhagen in the quarter-finals and now here against Sevilla in the final four, United created countless chances for goal.
But a combination of poor finish and goal-scorers in superb form meant that their only goals came through Bruno Fernande’s penalty kicks.
Against the Danish side it turned out to be enough. Against ongoing knockout specialists Sevilla, it was always unlikely to be the case.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer can look back on a season marked by improvements across the field, and no longer is that the case then forward, with Mason Greenwood joining Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford for a formidable front three to make.
But Greenwood’s sight dropped in his seat in the stands long after the full flute in Cologne illustrates the disappointment the entire United squad felt as they missed a golden opportunity to win a first trophy in three seasons.
The Red Devils are now on their longest run without a trophy for 31 years, and Solskjaer has an abnormally short summer break to find a way to solve the problems that remain at Old Trafford, despite the steps in the right direction that ‘s his team has taken.
Those worries would have been far from his mind as United made a strong start against Julen Lopetegui’s side, with Fernandes delivering a bright opening salvo with a 12-yard trademark finish after Rashford was buried by Diego Carlos.
But after failing to add to the lead, the 20-time English champions gradually began to lose their grip on proceedings, and in the 26th minute they were cut back after Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Harry Maguire both were undressed by Sergio Reguilon, who turned in for Suso to convert at the back post.
The score remained the same until the break after a very entertaining first half, but it was the eight minutes away after half time that United will rue.
Much like Karl-Johan Johnsson on Monday, Sevilla shot-stopper Yassine Bounou was in sublime form, making huge savings to reject both Greenwood and Martial as well as wave after United Gulf attacks the Spanish side back into their own boxes fixed.
Even when the Girona goalkeeper was hit on loan, his defenders – and especially former Manchester City midfielder Fernando – came to his rescue by putting their bodies on the line to make blocks.
United’s finish was sometimes quite even, with Fred, Paul Pogba, Rashford, Martial, Greenwood and Fernandes all whistling their lines at crucial moments.
As the game progressed, it became more and more likely that Sevilla would pay them, and they did just that when the ball from Jesus Navas over the box on the back post was passed by substitute Luuk de Jong with just 12 minutes left. .
Television breaks made Fernandes robbery over Victor Lindelof for failing to hit the target as United tempers began to boil.
It had been a difficult evening for the Premier League outfit, with the number of Sevilla officials present making it as much of a hostile atmosphere as you can get in a behind-the-scenes fixture.
Solskjaer and Lopetegui regularly plead on the sidelines, with the former Real Madrid boss accusing a number of United defenders of fouls.
Nemanja Matic, meanwhile, told a number of Sevilla substitutes and staff to “sit and keep close” as she called for a penalty after the ball hit Fernandes’ arm in the box. The young side of United were rattled, and in the closing stages it was clear that their heads were not fully in the game.
In what was United’s 61st game of a gruesome campaign, they began to look tired again in the closing stages, although Solskjaer waited until the 87th minute to make any substitutions.
Therein lies the main problem that needs to be solved at the Theater of Dreams this summer. While Solskjaer used the Europa League to bleed youngsters and offer fringe players game time earlier in the campaign, when the competition reached the business end, he did not need the quality beyond his first choice 11 to make a difference make.
It is clear that two or three new faces are required to take United to the next level. They remain hopeful that Jadon Sancho will be one, while they have been as determined as ever to bring in another out-and-out striker after their work for the goal in recent weeks.
But as Solskjaer leaks his wounds after a third semi-final defeat of the season, he can reflect on a campaign that has certainly offered more hope than the seasons that preceded it.
Now United cannot afford to miss another chance now that it has presented itself.
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