It might not have been pretty, but Manchester United were worthy winners of this season’s Europa League.
A fortuitous goal from Paul Pogba opened the scoring, before Henrikh Mkhitaryan sealed the game with an innovative and intuitive finish from close range.
Indicative of their season, Manchester United did not play attractive football. In fact, it was quite the opposite.
Their build-up play was scrappy and mostly to Marouane Fellaini’s chest for the knock down to Marcus Rashford; or it was the classic game plan of give it to Antonio Valencia, race down the right and whip in a cross.
However, early on in the game, the Red Devils appeared on top - dominating possession. They created a few non-chances as Ajax looked on with nerves.
As the game ticked on, Peter Bosz’s youthful side grew in confidence and started to put phases together, attempting to work the play up to young sensation Kasper Dolberg.
Yet, due to United’s diligent defensive work, the channels to feed Dolberg were shut off - Ajax found it increasingly difficult to pass it to their key man and the Danish striker’s only touch in the first 25 minutes came from the kick off after Pogba’s opener.
As Manchester United were gifted possession from a lackadaisical Ajax throw in, José Mourinho’s men took full advantage of the opportunity and Pogba found the back of the net from outside of the box through a deflected shot.
Yet it would seem that the goal caused a similar effect which has taken place throughout the majority of the season. United regressed into themselves and invited Ajax to attack them - creating pressure that they could have avoided by playing the same way.
As the first half came to an end, United did well to keep Ajax quiet. Sergio Romero, the stand-in for David De Gea, did not have to make a save in the opening 45 minutes and was relatively quiet.
The second half ran in a similar tempo to the first; Ajax dominated possession, but it was United to grab the second goal from an incredibly creative finish.
As the ball fell into Mkhitaryan’s path from a Chris Smalling header, the Armenian - who is the first of his country to win a major trophy - was there, as he always is, to guide the ball past a flailing André Onana with the outside of his boot.
At this point, with a two goal cushion, there was a very limited chance of Ajax coming back. Mourinho has turned this unorthodox defence into one of the best in Europe - they are formidable and incredibly difficult to break down.
Matteo Darmian had another blinding performance. Typically, the Italian defender is a right back, yet he is ready to commit to the cause and play at either left centre back, right centre back or at left back like he did in the final.
Mourinho trusts Darmian and that is why he can play them there with full confidence of doing a job well done. The former Torino defender might not have set the world alight, but he has been consistent and that is what makes a defensive rock.
As the clock ticked down, there was only one outcome: Manchester United lifting the Europa League trophy. The Red Devils might have had a disappointing Premier League season, but they have made up for it by winning this under pressure and securing Champions League football.
In Ajax’s credit, given are a very inexperienced and youthful side, they put up a good fight. But unfortunately for Bosz’s team, they were not pragmatic. The obviously had not prepared for the fact that the lanes into Dolberg might be shut off and so they were ineffective.
Davinson Sánchez was the standout player for Ajax and, at 20 years old, has some future ahead of him. There is no wonder Barcelona and Chelsea are reportedly interested in the Colombian centre back.
With five minutes left, it was a lovely, fitting attribute for Mourinho to send Wayne Rooney on for potentially his final appearance in a Manchester United shirt.
To be on the pitch when his club win their latest European trophy is an apt send-off for a servant to the Manchester club.
Rooney has won every single major trophy you can win at club level and deserved to lift the Europa League trophy after what he has given to this club. That cannot be forgotten.
Mourinho is a born winner. We already knew that. He came into this final under immense pressure and delivered on a European stage. It was a tactical masterclass from the Portuguese boss that we have seen so many times before.
And, so, with two trophies won, Champions League football secured and the potential for some huge names to come in this summer, Manchester United are in very, very safe hands.
