VillarrealVillarreal20:00Man UtdManchester United
| Europa League final: Villarreal v Manchester United |
|---|
| Date: Wednesday, 25 May. Kick-off: 20:00 BST. Coverage: Live commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live and text commentary on the BBC Sport website |
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says a Manchester United win over Villarreal in the Europa League final could be a "stepping stone for a big future".
United face Villarreal in Gdansk, Poland, on Wednesday (20:00 BST).
Solskjaer, a Champions League winner with United as a player, has yet to win a trophy since taking charge of the club in 2018-19.
"This is a team that we've rebuilt in the last few years, hopefully this is the start of something more," he said.
United have not won a major trophy for four years, but Solskjaer said he was "quietly confident" of beating Villarreal, who finished seventh in Spain's La Liga in 2020-21.
- 'Faith in Solskjaer close to being rewarded'
- Maguire 'has to train on Tuesday'
- Fernandes 'honoured' by Cantona comparison
"This is the best club in the world," he added.
"That's the pleasure and the pressure of Manchester United. That's something the players are ready for. They wouldn't have signed here if they weren't top players.
"These are big nights for us. It might be the stepping stone for a big future.
"This group of players has been working for a year and a half together. The next step for them is to enjoy a game like this - I've seen something growing inside of the players."
Will Maguire recover in time?
Doubts remain about captain Harry Maguire's availability after he suffered ankle ligament damage two weeks ago.
Maguire was on crutches until last week but has travelled to Gdansk and hopes to feature. However, he did not take part in Tuesday's training session.
Solskjaer is without Anthony Martial and Phil Jones because of knee injuries.
The United boss has a big decision to make over who starts in goal.
David de Gea made some fine saves in the semi-final second leg against Roma, but Dean Henderson is also challenging for a starting place.
"It's always difficult to leave players out but it's throughout the whole season," added the United boss.
- 'The UK is all I've ever known': Panorama looks at the impact of immigration status on those born or raised in Britain
- Wild Weekends: Three youngsters embark on the wildest activities Scotland has to offer
