MANCHESTER UNITED’S poor finishing cost them tasting Europa League glory this season.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side fell to a 2-1 defeat to Sevilla in their semi-final clash in Cologne.
Manchester United fluffed their lines when it mattered mostCredit: Getty Images – Getty
But just like in the previous round against Copenhagen, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side missed a whole host of chances to kill the game off.
In these two games, United had FORTY-SIX shots at goal – but have only two scored penalties from Bruno Fernandes to show for it.
Solskjaer was desperate to end the season with some silverware to add to an impressive third-placed finish in the Premier League.
But it is perennial Europa league winners Sevilla who progress through to the final back in Cologne.
Watching the two games, you wouldn’t have thought Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood have shared 62 goals between them.
Speaking to BT Sport about the missed opportunity of silverware, Solskjaer said: “It’s one of them if you take chances you win comfortably – not always the case in football.
“We had moments in spells in both halves where we should have scored a few.
“We have a young team – some spells showed that this group of players will have to learn and get some consistency in their play.
“When we get the ball down and create chances it’s scintillating at times.
“It’s disappointing we didn’t score because we’ve got players with that quality.”
Their keeper did very well, but the quality we have we should have scored
Bruno Fernandes
And Fernandes, the only player to score in both games, added: “[It was] more than a positive start. We played a great game and created a lot of chances.
“But in football it’s not enough – we missed a lot in front of goal.
“We are not satisfied about this because we wanted to go through.
“Their keeper did very well, but the quality we have we should have scored.”
The disappointment could see United push on with their pursuit of Jadon Sancho.
His club Borussia Dortmund insist the 20-year-old winger is going nowhere, but a bid in the excess of £100million could change that.
And United legend Paul Scholes believes United would have beaten Sevilla if they had Sancho in the team.
“We know all this Sancho stuff is going on, they need to spend more money.
“If they want to win trophies, they’ve got to start spending the money.
“They created chances tonight but if you think of Sancho in that team tonight I think United are scoring.”
Scholes believes United lack quality depth in their squad, a problem that can only be solved by spending big cash on star names.
And the 45-year-old has urged old team-mate Solskjaer to keep on pushing, explaining that quality players like Sancho are the only ones who can lift United past their current state and help them win finals.
Anthony Martial could have added a few more goals to his 23 against SevillaCredit: Getty – Pool
Man Utd could face bidding war for Jadon Sancho as Dortmund hope to delay transfer until next summer
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
