United Assistant coach Kieran McKenna is quoted as saying, “the group is really desperate to win our first trophy”. Manchester United have now reached the Europa League semi-finals for the second straight season, even though in this second leg they were missing Marcus Rashford (who was on the bench), and Luke Shaw, Nemanja Matic and Harry Maguire (through suspension.) Eric Bailly remains absent with Covid-19, with Anthony Martial and Phil Jones long-term absentees. So Roma now stand between United and another final.
My Man of the Match would be Edinson Cavani. He keeps showing great enthusiasm and good movement and what a great finish on the volley in the opening minutes to all but put the tie to bed. Showing good form up top with Martial out injured. Last weekend he scored his 50th European goal when he bagged the opener and what a difference from the questions that had been asked when United signed the 34-year-old with the present huge demand to see him stay. The Uruguayan this year has shown just how much this United side benefit from a natural centre forward in their starting XI.
Although the general feeling is that United have made good progress, failure to miss out in yet another final would be considered by the fans as a black mark. They’ve had four attempts at winning a semi-final and fallen short every time. To remind that Manchester City have twice beaten United in a semi-final whist Chelsea and Seville have also done so. United cannot continue to claim ’we are still improving’. If they fail for a fifth time people will justifiably ask if they are learning from their failures.
Article contributed by Contributor Kenneth. Comments are appreciated on our Facebook page.