• Football
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • Home
  • Football
    • England
    • Transfer News
    • Premier League
    • Champions League
    • Lionel Messi
    • Cristiano Ronaldo
    • EA FC 25
    • Wrexham
  • Boxing
    • Tyson Fury
    • Anthony Joshua
    • Oleksandr Usyk
    • Mike Tyson
    • Jake Paul
    • Logan Paul
  • UFC
    • Dana White
    • Conor McGregor
    • Khabib Nurmagomedov
    • Jon Jones
    • Paddy Pimblett
    • Joe Rogan
  • Other Sport
    • Athletics
    • Formula 1
    • MMA
    • Motorsport
    • NBA
    • Darts
    • NFL
    • Snooker
    • Wrestling
    • Tennis
    • Cricket
    • Golf
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has revealed the one thing he’d change about the Europa League final in 2021

Home> Football> Football News> Man Utd

Updated 11:21 20 Sep 2023 GMT+1Published 11:20 20 Sep 2023 GMT+1

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has revealed the one thing he’d change about the Europa League final in 2021

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has opened up about his only final in charge of Manchester United.

Josh Lawless

Josh Lawless

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has opened up on the mistake he made in the one final he took charge of during his time at Manchester United.

Solskjaer was in the hotseat at United for just short of three years before he was sacked in November 2021 following a wretched run of results.

He finished with a 54% win percentage from the 168 games he managed but was unable to end United's hunt for a trophy.

Solskjaer tasted defeat in a plethora of semi-finals in the Europa League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup.

But his side were narrowly beaten in the 2021 Europa League final against Unai Emery's Villarreal, with the showpiece going all the way to penalties after a 1-1 draw at an empty PGE Arena in Gdansk.

Advert

A long, old shoot-out went all the way to goalkeepers, with David de Gea seeing his effort from 12 yards saved by Geronimo Rulli.

Image: Getty
Image: Getty

Solskjaer has watched back the majority of his games as United boss but not the Villarreal loss, where he regrets not starting Nemanja Matic, who was an unused substitute in the final.

The Norwegian believes the game was suited for him and admits he made the wrong call.

Advert

"Villarreal under Unai Emery were hard to break down," Solskjaer told The Athletic when asked if he would have done anything differently.

"I’ve not watched it back. Not that one. Or Liverpool, Spurs or Watford. No chance. I watched the rest, we were a decent side.

"But I should have started or at least brought on Nemanja Matic against Villarreal. That game was for him. I didn’t choose him because I felt others deserved it.

"It’s difficult to leave players out but you have to take risks. I risked kids for the final game of 2020-21 at Wolves, risked an unbeaten away record. I was proud of how those kids reacted (in a 2-1 win)."

Advert

Solskjaer admitted he is open to a return to management and has had offers, but he is now currently working for UEFA as a technical observer.

SPORTbible are on WhatsApp! We've launched a dedicated news channel to send you the latest news, features and plenty more directly on WhatsApp and all you need to do to sign up is click through to our one-way broadcast channel here for 'SPORTbible News' to appear in the 'Updates' tab on your WhatsApp.

Featured Image Credit: Image: Getty

Topics: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Manchester United, Europa League, Nemanja Matic

Josh Lawless
Josh Lawless

Josh is a sports journalist who specialises in football and WWE. He has been published by Curzon Ashton FC, Late Tackle, Manchester City FC, The Mirror, Read Man City and Manchester Evening News. He provides coverage of professional wrestling and has covered two WrestleMania events for SPORTbible.

X

@joshlawless_

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

2 hours ago
3 hours ago
5 hours ago
  • 2 hours ago

    Ex-Chelsea wonderkid tipped to be 'football's next big thing' announces shock retirement from football

    The player made seven appearances for Chelsea and was once compared to Eden Hazard.

    Football
  • 3 hours ago

    Alexander Isak 'cut price tag' revealed as Liverpool deal with Newcastle 'in play'

    The Newcastle United forward has attracted interest from several top clubs this summer.

    Football
  • 5 hours ago

    Xabi Alonso has found the new Luka Modric for Real Madrid and it could be the signing of the summer

    The Real Madrid boss could be set to replace the veteran midfielder, who will leave the club later this summer.

    Football
  • 5 hours ago

    Odds slashed on Lionel Messi's next club as clear favourite emerges after huge news drops on Inter Miami star's future

    Lionel Messi has been linked with a move away from Inter Miami.

    Football
  • Ole Gunnar Solskjaer goes on verbal rampage and destroys Besiktas' entire structure after Europa League humiliation
  • Ole Gunnar Solskjaer handpicked Man Utd's 'next Michael Carrick' but the club didn't listen and sold him for insulting fee
  • Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s dressing-room speech to his Besiktas players after Europa League win is going viral
  • Ole Gunnar Solskjaer demands Besiktas to sign Man Utd star before transfer deadline day