Ole's rebuild mission laid bare by Europa agony

United manager immediately eyes reinforcements after final flop

GDANSK, Poland－Manchester United's gut-wrenching defeat on penalties to Villarreal in the Europa League final reemphasized the magnitude of the rebuilding task for manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at Old Trafford.

Exactly 22 years to the day since the Norwegian struck his famous winner for United in the Champions League final against Bayern Munich, he was made to swallow a bitter pill after watching his side lose a match it largely controlled while, crucially, lacking bite.

David de Gea bowed his head after missing the decisive spot-kick, having seen the first 21 successfully converted, but Solskjaer's refusal to make a change until the 100th minute suggested little faith in a bench that included his injured captain Harry Maguire.