Manchester United manager confirms goalkeeper for Europa League final

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has confirmed Sergio Romero will start in goal ahead of David De Gea for their Europa League final against Ajax on May 24.

Mourinho’s side booked their place in the final after overcoming Spanish side Celta Vigo over two legs to set up an exciting match against European giants Ajax in Stockholm at the end of this month.

Romero has featured in 11 of United’s 14 matches in the Europa League this season but Mourinho was keen to stress that the Argentina international was not necessarily his first choice goalkeeper for the competition earlier in the year.

Despite the fact Mourinho’s first season at Old Trafford will be judged on the outcome of the Europa League final, the United boss has confirmed he will stick with Romero for the final instead of recalling first choice De Gea.

“They are two fantastic goalkeepers. I never saw, in all my career, two goalkeepers who are such friends because it’s a position where you always have a little bit of rivalry, especially if they are both at the same kind of level,” Mourinho told the club’s official website.

“We are speaking about Argentina’s national goalkeeper and Spain’s national goalkeeper but they are such friends and support each other all the time. I have never seen a bad face. I have always seen them supporting each other.

“I think it’s fair Sergio is going to play in the final and David accepts that, especially because he has played three Europa League matches already – two against Feyenoord and one against Fenerbahce. [The means] if we win the trophy, David wins the trophy too.

“If everything goes normally, and we have no problems, Sergio plays in the final.”

Romero joined United from Serie A side Sampdoria in 2015 but was thoroughly underwhelming when called upon during his first season at the club. However, the 30-year-old has really grown in stature under Mourinho and has been almost flawless when given the chance to play this term.

In fact, Romero has kept more clean sheets than any other goalkeeper in the Europa League this season (7).

For more stats on Sergio Romero, click here to visit his WhoScored player page