The old cliche about penalty shootouts being a lottery simply isn’t true – it takes skill and execution to score or save a spot-kick so the winner of the shootout has earned it.
That doesn’t mean that it’s the ideal situation for teams to get into as nerves can play a huge part, so if you’re holding out for a penalty shootout then it says you don’t fancy your chances of winning the game in the conventional manner by outscoring the opponent.
Man United were completely dominant in normal time tonight against Villarreal so they had to fancy their chances of wearing the opponent down and finding the winning goal.
What transpired was a bizarre refusal from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to make substitutions which would’ve kept the team fresh and allowed them to keep pushing for the winner, so it looked like he was happy to risk Villarreal finding a winner in order to take the game to penalties.
Obviously that came back to bite United in the biggest way, and it’s fair to say that the fans are incredulous with the approach from the manager
Playing for pens absolute disgrace. All I want is Solskjaer gone hasn’t got an once of management skills
— JJ (@Roetgen1895) May 26, 2021
Solskjaer is playing this to go to penalties. No desire to go out an win. Playing for pens. Shocking.
— All Vibes No Trophies FC (@OldTraffordChat) May 26, 2021
Villarreal will be feeling confident going into penalties.
Solskjaer got this all wrong. #EuropaLeagueFinal#UELfinal
— Daddy Zihan (@olacokers) May 26, 2021
Solskjaer looks to be playing for penalties and it may actually backfire cos De Gea isn’t good at saving them ?
— Amirul Husni ?? (@amirulhbs_) May 26, 2021
A penalty shoot out is a toss of a coin! How can Solskjaer be settling for that?
— Sajid Khokhar (@sajid2kmatami) May 26, 2021
Solskjaer playing for penalties. Astonishing.
— Brian (@IrishBrian24) May 26, 2021
I’m sorry but if this is how Oles gonna be in a cup final he’s got to go despite the result . His management of the game was awful#OleOut
— Dheer™? (@Dhxxr___) May 26, 2021
Solskjaer bottled that, regardless of how pens turn out.
If he freshens it up, the way they were completely dominating the 2nd half of regular time, they win it in the 90.
Cowardly left it far too long, ran them into the ground and they were dead on their feet #UELfinal #mufc
— Adam Hennessey (@9_Hendo) May 26, 2021
Ole has to go tonight clueless weak in management need to bring Conte in from Milan with passion
M. Rashfod cause all problems against vil. Ole must sign three complete winger or let him go….
I want both Ogs(clueless) and Ddg(not worth the wages) gone.
OGS must go coz he is not ready for management how comes from the day he joins United he hasn’t lift any cup
OLE GOT RIGHT ONE THING.HIS DRESSING CODE.A COWARD, USELESS PERSON RIDING HIS LUCK.HE PROVED ONCE AGAIN THAT HE IS A SNOWMAN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DESSERT AT 50 DEGREES.
Man utd coach must be sack after losing to Villarreal