Villarreal chief sends bold warning after learning of Man Utd final clash
Villarreal president Fernando Roig has sent a bold warning to Manchester United after learning the make-up of the Europa League final.
The two sides will meet in this season’s showpiece in Gdansk after winning their respective semi-finals. Villarreal’s 0-0 draw with Arsenal proved enough to get through with a 2-1 aggregate victory. United, meanwhile, lost 3-2 to Roma in Italy, but came through with an 8-5 overall win.
United will therefore be slight favourites going into the final in Poland later this month.
However, Villarreal’s president has insisted that his side will not be walkovers in the tie.
“We are going to the final to win it, not to walk,” he said (via the Manchester Evening News).
Villarreal could easily have lost their second leg, had Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang not hit the post twice for Arsenal.
Overall, though, the Spanish club deserved their progression. Indeed, former Gunner Martin Keown questioned Mikel Arteta’s tenure in north London after the “embarrassing result”.
United, meanwhile, continued their exciting march towards Ole Gunnar Solskjaer‘s first silverware as head coach.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer: We want to finish season with a trophy
Manchester United are safely through to play Roma in the Europa League semi finals - and manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is keen to lift the trophy, believing it could be a catalyst for further success.
The Norwegian had lost four successive semi-finals heading into the clash with Roma. Therefore, reaching the final will prove a step forward.
Nevertheless, the Red Devils will have all eyes on completing the job in Gdansk and lifting the trophy.
Edinson Cavani once again proved the hero for United, after scoring another brace in the second leg as he did in the first.
As such, Solskjaer had big praise for his side after ending their last-four hoodoo.
Solskjaer lauds Man Utd progression
“It feels good to be in the final,” he said.
“We played one very, very good half at Old Trafford which has taken us through. I’m disappointed we lost – especially the way we played in the second half.
“It could easily have been 8-6 to them. It was a strange game.”
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