Ajax grew while Manchester United snored away.

The date is 24th May 2017 and this blogger was seated at the breezy Bush Bar along Nza Street, Independence Layout Enugu with his friend Izuchukwu Mbah seeing the 2016/ 2017 Europa League final between Ajax and Manchester United. On their table were two carcases of arm length tilapia barbecue and 5 bottles of beer.
Three were empty while the ones with liquid content were in a non deliberate race towards emptiness. At the end, Paul Pogba and Henrikh Mkhitaryan scored two goals and handed Josè Mourinho's Manchester United the 2016/ 2017 Europa League trophy.


Two years later, the difference between the two Europa League finalists of that year is unprecedented. While Ajax grew in leaps and bounds, Manchester United have slowly but steadily, descended the ladder of football hierarchy.
While United struggled for the entire 90 minutes of a woeful UEFA Champions League quarter final against Barcelona, Ajax, led by center back Matthijs De Ligt, shone like a million stars in their victory against Juventus in Turin. Daley Blind played the entire 90 minutes of the Europa League final for United against Ajax in 2017 but featured for Ajax in their victory against the Old Lady as his sale was sanctioned by Josè. Cameroun goalkeeper André Onana, Joel Veltman, De Ligt and Frankie De Jong (who is already a Barca player) are some survivors from the 2017 Ajax team that beat Juve. They caused the Juve team nightmares as they pinged the ball round the field comfortably.

United on the other hand, after labouring through a 0-1 loss to Barca at Old Trafford, played like pregnant men at the Camp Nou as Barca ran riot.
It has to be said that relieving Josè Mourinho of his role at United was a good football decision. Yes, Josè may still be good but he just wasn't what United needed at the time (and beyond).

While Ajax deserve commendation for a grown team, United need a reality check. Some of their players are just not Manchester United quality and should be sold while they go for hungry boys who want to, and can actually play. Olé Gunnar Solskjaer and Ed Woodward need to be bold during the summer and make statement sales and signings. Failure to do so, Old Trafford will be cemented as a Theatre of Nightmares.

Picture credit: YouTube
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