MAN UTD 2, ASTON VILLA 0
Where have Manchester United been for the previous 37 Premier League matches?
That was the private remark of a former Reds’ player after Ruben Amorim’s side finished the season in style with victory and a superb performance against Aston Villa.
There were goals from Amad Diallo and Christian Eriksen while United also struck the frame of the goal three times.
Villa, who needed a positive result to keep alive any hopes of gatecrashing the top five Champions League places – in the end they fell just ne point short – were swept aside during an afternoon in which there were further protests against the club’s hated owners.
And long before Villa were reduced to 10 men in first half stoppage time when they had keeper Emiliano Martinez sent off, United were well on top as they finished the season a disappointing 15th – they were 17th at one point in the afternoon.
Amorim apologised to the fans for the season he labelled a ‘disaster’ before the players and their families went on the traditional final day lap of honour.
He said: “We have to make a choice, stay stuck in the past – this season is in the past or we stick together and move forward.
“In my first three games, we won two and drew one and I said the storm is coming.
“Today after this disaster season, I can say the good days are coming.
“If there is one club that can overcome any situation, any disaster, it is our club.”
There was also a message to the Reds’ players.
“It was not always fair to you, but I tried to be honest to you,” he said.
Amorim added there are improvements, though they have not always translated into results.
He said: “In the final, if you ask anyone they will say we were the better team.
“Today we played a good game against a team one point from the Champions League.”
Amorim pointed out a lot of changes have been made during his six months at the club, more than are normally made in two years.
While United celebrated, there was frustration for Villa who were controversially denied a goal when the game was scoreless.
Referee Thomas Bramall blew his whistle before Ollie Watkins netted believing the striker had kicked the ball out of the hands of keeper Altay Bayindir, but replays showed Bayindir was not in control of the ball.
Villa captain John McGinn said: “I think everyone wanted the correct decisions when the VAR was implemented. You watch rugby, even if the referee has awarded a try and it’s wrong, its overturned.
Embed from Getty Images“It’s so, so hard to take especially when the impact it has on us, as a club and a team, is so big. It’s really, really tough to take and handle. I don’t think we deserved to win but if you were 1-0 up at that point and all you need is a point to get to the Champions League, it’s costly.
“Moving forward, the rule has to be looked at as the correct decisions were not getting made at the end of the day. I think [referee] Thomas [Bramall] knew. It probably wasn’t fair on him at that moment either. The boys are gutted. But European football three years in a row, we need to hold onto that and see what next season brings.
“He [Bramall] didn’t really know what to say. Because of the impact it has on us as players and our careers, the club, you are obviously angry.
“I think he is a young referee who has progressed very quickly. Maybe we could look at having more experienced referees. I don’t know. It’s just an incredible decision and makes today even worse than it should be.”
Villa manager Unai Emery said the referee immediately knew he made a mistake and confirmed they will send a complaint to the Premier League about appointing an ‘inexperienced’ referee
He said: “I make mistakes as every player makes mistakes.
“I believe in VAR, and we have good referees in the Premier League, but they make mistakes.”
Emery, who was disappointed how his side started the game, added had his team gone ahead, all they would have needed was a point to finish in the top five.
“For the third season in a row we have qualified for Europe and we will enjoy it,” je said.
It was a sign of what is to come with the players United are happy to let leave in the summer as goalkeeper Andre Onana, winger Alejandro Garnacho and forward Joshua Zirkzee were left out of the matchday squad.
Victor Lindelof, who is out of contract in the summer, started while Christian Eriksen and Jonny Evans were among the substitutes – all three are leaving the club this summer.
Altay Bayindir, Ayden Heaven and Lindelof started with three changes from the side that lost to Tottenham in the Europa League final.
Villa were unchanged from the side that beat Tottenham 2-0 in their last Premier League match, although they were boosted with the returns of Youri Tielemans and Jacob Ramsey who were both among the substitutes.
United made an electrifying start as Villa were on the back foot from the start.
Noussair Mazraiui cut the ball back to Mason Mount whose shot was saved by the legs of keeper Emiliano Martinez.
There were further chances in the opening 12 minutes for Mount, Bruno Fernandes, Casemiro and Amad which were either saved or flew narrowly wide.
But there was an injury blow for the Reds inside 20 minutes when Mazraoui pulled up with a hamstring injury and was immediately replaced by Diogo Dalot.
United came within inches of taking the lead just short of the half hour when Harry Maguire produced superb trickery near the byline before cutting the ball back to Dalot whose shot crashed against the upright.
There was drama in first half stoppage time when Martinez was sent off for clattering into Hojlund who burst clean through as he latched on to Matty Cash’s poor back pass.
Villa were forced to take off PSG loanee Marco Asencio as they brought on understudy keeper Robin Olsen.
United made a change at the break as they subbed substitute Dalot as Kobbie Mainoo was introduced with Amad switching to right wing back.
Hojlund thought he had put United ahead three minutes after the restart only for his joy to be short-lived as he had the goal ruled out for offside.
Casemiro had headed Mount’s corner towards goal with the Dane heading home from six yards.
Fernandes then hit a screamer from 30 yards which flashed just wide of the upright.
United were denied by the frame of the goal for a second time in the 54th minute when Patrick Dorgu cut the ball back to Casemiro whose curled effort struck the far upright.
A poor header from Ian Maatsen back his keeper let in Hojlund who raced clear only to shoot straight to Olsen.
United made two other changes mid-half when Ayden Heaven and Mount were replaced by Jonny Evans and Christian Eriksen.
News reached the Villa fans that Newcastle were losing at home to Everton, a scoreline which lifted them into the top five Champions League places as the Geordies dropped out.
Fernandes had two shots from distance in quick succession, but both flew narrowly wide.
There was controversy when Villa had a goal disallowed in the 73rd minute.
Maguire failed to head the ball which bounced backwards towards goal. Bayindir raced from his goal to claim the ball which was kicked out of his hands by Morgan Rogers who netted. Replays showed the keeper clearly didn’t have control of the ball.
To add insult to injury, United took the lead three minutes later when Fernandes cross for Amad to head home at the far post, his 11th goal of the season.
Eriksen almost doubled the lead soon after when Eriksen’s free kick from 30 yards clipped the top of the crossbar. The Dane also fired narrowly wide.
United made their final change when Hojlund made way for Chido Obi.
The second goal arrived three minutes from a time, an Eriksen penalty, his fifth goal of the season, after Amad was brought down by Maatsen on the edge of the box.
Bayindir ensured he kept a clean sheet with injury-time saves to deny Cash and Watkins.
United almost added a third goal when Evans’ header from Eriksen’s corner was turned round th post by Olsen’s fingertips.