1. Paul Pogba: a statement performance from United’s leader
Whether it was barking orders at or cajoling a clearly uneasy Matteo Darmian early on, winning headers inside his own box or driving past four Ajax players in the middle of midfield, Paul Pogba led from the front for Manchester United from the outset.
He found the back of the net with his third effort inside the first 20 minutes and make no mistake, this was a statement performance. The Frenchman was as impressive without the ball as he was with it – he embraced the ‘dirty’ aspects of the game as much as the more aesthetically pleasing sides.
He was so impressive, applying pressure to Ajax and relieving it for United. He glided through the midfield time and again and if any Ajax player had the temerity to try to take the ball from them, he almost literally threw them off him.
There was one moment where he went for a 40-60 in favour of the impressive Davinson Sanchez and there was only ever one winner. He may have slightly faded in the second half but he set the tone and it ultimately won United the game.
Manchester United's French midfielder Paul Pogba celebrates after the UEFA Europa League final football match Ajax Amsterdam v Manchester United on May 24, 2017 at the Friends Arena in Solna outside Stockholm.
Image credit: Getty Images
2. Vindication for Jose Mourinho
At times it wasn’t pretty, at times it was nervy, but United got it done. Two scrappy goals, one from the highly impressive Pogba and the other from the up-until-that-point-pretty-poor Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
The fact the Armenian scored the goal was reflective of the game. Every decision Mourinho made came off. His decision to more or less give up on the league? Vindicated. His decision to select Marouane Fellaini? Vindicated. His decision to start Mkhitaryan over either Jesse Lingard or Anthony Martial? Vindicated. His decision to continue with Sergio Romero in goal? Vindicated. His decision to start Chris Smalling? Vindicated.
Every decision he made paid off. United are in the Champions League, and have won two major trophies. Now that's a strong first year.
2017, Jose Mourinho, UEFA Europa League, Getty Images
Image credit: Getty Images
3. United were too physical for Ajax
Ajax were composed, they were intricate too, but they struggled to create clear-cut chances. That was as much down to United as any failings from an Ajax point of view. United were just too dominant in the key areas. Pogba and Fellaini took complete control of midfield in the areas and at the points in which it mattered.
In amongst it all, marrying the grit with the guile was the superb Ander Herrera. Technically so gifted but an absolute worker – a Mourinho dream.
Manchester United's French midfielder Paul Pogba (2nd R) celebrates scoring the opening goal with his teammates including Manchester United's Belgian midfielder Marouane Fellaini (top) during the UEFA Europa League final football match Ajax Amsterdam v Ma
Image credit: Getty Images
Kasper Dolberg was given big billing before the game, and rightly so, but he was pretty well shackled by United’s back four, in particular Chris Smalling, and was withdrawn just after the hour mark. His time will come but United just had too much nous for him.
Ajax are a fine footballing side – they have showed that throughout the season – but they were a little light it terms of cunning and physicality against a United side who did not play their best but got the job done.
The Amsterdam club can draw huge positives from this run and the experience of this final will serve them well but United just had too much.
Frenkie de Jong of Ajax, Abdelhak Nouri of Ajax, Jairo Riedewald of Ajax, Davy Klaassen of Ajax, Matthijs de Ligt of Ajax, Donny van de Beek of Ajax, Kasper Dolberg of Ajaxduring the UEFA Europa League final match between Ajax Amsterdam and Manchester Uni
Image credit: Getty Images
4. Ajax defence impresses (in the main)
The hype may have been about the forwards but Ajax’s back four were superb, with their right side in particular standing out. Joel Veltman and Davinson Sanchez, 20, were diligent and commanding in their defensive work – even if Sanchez likes the occasional risk - while showing maturity and composure in their forward play.
Davinson Sanchez of Ajaxduring the UEFA Europa League final match between Ajax Amsterdam and Manchester United at the Friends Arena on May 24, 2017 in Stockholm, Sweden
Image credit: Getty Images
When Lingard had the run on Sanchez in the second half, the Colombian produced a masterful, last-ditch saving to tackle to steal the ball from the young England forward. He was guilty of over-complicating things here and there but that will come with age.
Matthijs de Ligt is 17 years old; let that sink in for a second because he played like a veteran. He made his debut for the Dutch national team after only two starts for Ajax and it is easy to see why. He has played 11 league games for the club yet kept Juan Mata and Rashford quiet for large swathes of the game. He can only get better.
Matthijs de Ligt of Ajax and Marcus Rashford of Manchester United in action during the UEFA Europa League Final between Ajax and Manchester United at Friends Arena on May 24, 2017 in Stockholm, Sweden.
Image credit: Getty Images
5. Both set of supporters were an absolute credit to their clubs
The build-up to the match was obviously overshadowed by the Manchester attacks. There was a sombre mood in and around Stockholm on Tuesday. Both sets of fans were growing into the occasion throughout Wednesday and were superb throughout the final.
There was a near constant chorus of “Manchester” from the United fans while at the other end of the pitch the Ajax fans willed their young team forward. Football at its best, and this was it, is majestic.
General view inside the stadium as Players, fans, and officals take part in a minutes silence in memory of the victims of the Manchester Concert attack prior to the UEFA Europa League Final between Ajax and Manchester United at Friends Arena on May 24, 20
Image credit: Getty Images
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