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I have avoided writing about this match because of the sourness it brought to my heart. I love Manchester United but I like being objective when writing reviews for the matches because I don't ever want to underplay anything when they lose or overemphasize it when they win. In fact, I don't even want to lash out when they lose either, so I just want to be objective and at the time they lost, I was so sure I would have written a terrible review because I would tear into them seriously for such a terrible performance.

So, I finally brought myself to write about this match. As a Manchester United fan, it hurts me to see us lose the final of the Europa League in such a way. It was a shameful performance and everyone should take the stick for their part in it. There is no doubt that Villarreal worked hard for this and I am thrilled for them. This is why we love football - for the twists and turns, the upset and the unexpected.

I am trying to be objective while not allowing the pain of the loss to cloud my judgement. I am pained beyond words and there is no one that could say Villarreal were done any favours. They fully deserved it especially winning their first trophy in their history against Manchester United. It means so much to them than it would for United and it showed in their attitude from the start of the match.

United went into the match as a favourite. Not to underestimate Villarreal but everyone expected United to win the match but Villarreal fans and players held that touch of hope and took the game to United. Manchester United controlled the game but they were clueless as to how to break the defence. Villarreal were patient and worked themselves to perfection.

They took the lead from an indirect freekick after catching United's defence napping and just when you expected, Edison Cavani gave United a lifeline and hope. Cavani gave the freekick that led to the goal away while also making up for it at the other end by scoring too. United went the whole of the match without adding anything to the match. 

Marcus Rashford was terrible throughout the match but you can expect it because he had been playing with injury way before now but still, this is a final, every player should find that extra motivation to play at their best and win a trophy after being this close.

Villarreal threatened on the break a few times but the game dragged into extra time and eventually, penalties. It was a long one as you would expect both teams to have rehearsed for such. David De Gea was given a list to follow through with and two out of the list would have been saved if he followed through with it but he ditched it seeing the first 3 takers didn't place their balls as written on the list.

All the outfield players buried their chances as none of the goalkeeper kept anyone out. The time came for De Gea to score, having conceded against his counterpart but he fumbled. His shot was so tame and uninteresting. Rulli saved it and became the hero for Villarreal. 

A lot of people blamed De Gea for the tamed shot. I know he wasn't trained to be a penalty taker just as the other goalkeeper who still converted his own chance, but at least he was trained to save penalties but he still faltered. He had always been known to be a horrible penalty saver. In 26 penalties he had been faced with, he had saved none. I think in his early years at United, he only saved one against Chelsea. I couldn't help but to wonder if he was ever right to have been selected for the shootout. This is a tactical flaw from Ole but then, maybe he felt he should have followed the list he was given.

McTominay played his heart out and I can't fault Cavani too much but this team didn't show the desire to win the game. Maybe they were too confident in their ability to come from behind every time but this time, they failed at it.

Congratulations to Villarreal. Manchester United would have to sort out their summer signings early so they can mount a serious title challenge if they ever want to be taken seriously. 

It was a mixed season for them as they would have gotten their hands on 2 titles at least before they were knocked out by eventual winners of the FA Cup, Leicester City and now, Villarreal. A terrible home run also cost them a serious title challenge that saw City wrap up the title with few games to spare.

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*Thank you for your time.*

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**My pen doesn't bleed, it speaks, with speed and ease.**

*Still me*,

>My tongue is like the pen of a ready writer.

**Olawalium**; (**Love's chemical content, in human form**). *Take a dose today: doctor's order.*