AJAX CAPTAIN DAVY Klaassen accused Manchester United of sitting back and playing a long-ball game in Wednesday’s Europa League final.
Jose Mourinho’s side won 2-0 in Stockholm to end the season with a second major trophy and secure a place in the Champions League group stage for next season.
United started well and took the lead through a deflected Paul Pogba strike before Henrikh Mkhitaryan hooked in a second shortly after the break following a corner.
Ajax enjoyed 69 per cent of the possession but managed only three shots on target as United sat back and comfortably frustrated an attack that proved devastating to the likes of Lyon and Schalke in the knockout stages.
Klaassen conceded that his side were far from their best but was deeply frustrated by the approach adopted by their opponents.
He told RTL7 : “We were simply not good enough. It is very difficult against a team like that. You know they are just waiting and then kick it long. They scored two lucky goals.
“We didn’t start well. We had a bit more possession after 15, 20 minutes or so. They just waited around. Both of their goals were lucky.
There were not an awful lot of real chances. We tried to play our way through, but we were not good enough. It will have something to do with our opponent. They knew exactly what to do. And when you are not on top of your game, it is very difficult.”
United are now the fifth team to win the three major continental tournaments in Europe: the Champions League, Europa League and Uefa Super Cup.
Ajax, Juventus, Bayern Munich and Chelsea are the others to have achieved the feat.
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I thought he done very well last night. He actually scored his first Ireland goal Vs Celtic in Scott Brown’s testimonial and the way Mick spoke about him last night he could well be promoted.
Cullen got man of the match but I thought Browne was the real MVP. His control of the ball, slowing down the game and giving himself time for an option to open up was another level to the rest of the team.
Don’t get me wrong, a few players impressed me last night, with Byrne, Long, Collins and Cullen getting all the credit but Browne deserves some too.
Would love to see him get a move out of Preston.
@Baz Harkin: Only matter of time before premier league clubs start taking an interest, top midfielder.Should be in ahead of Hourihan and Hendrick. Always seems to do the simple things right and be in the right place, just like a fellow Cork midfielder did a few years ago, but we better not talk about him for a while though!
@Baz Harkin: As a lover of PNE..I WOULD NOT!!!
Browne would walk into most midfield in the bottom half of the Premier league. So many foreign managers these days though bringing in speed demons from Africa/Germany/Brazil/France etc that it’s getting harder and harder to get the big break.
@Stanley Baggins: hence why Irish footballers need to start looking further afield and taking opportunities on the continent. Even English footballers are starting to do that more and more.
Browne should have more caps than he has. I know he’s been unlucky with injuries but his form was largely ignored by O Neill. Hopefully he gets back into the Preston team and pushes for a place with the national side. We’re not blessed with guys who can score from midfield and he certainly can if he’s played in the right position.