Manchester United starting line-up for the Europa
League final, manager Jose Mourinho has
confirmed.
The Argentina international has started the last 10
matches in the competition, including both legs of
the semi-final win over Celta Vigo, keeping six
clean sheets in the process.
There had been suggestions Mourinho would
restore David de Gea for the showpiece in
Stockholm in what is a huge game for United, with
a third trophy of the season and a place in the
Champions League group stages at stake.
However, Mourinho says Romero will retain his
spot and spoke in glowing terms about the good
relationship between his top two goalkeepers.
"They are two fantastic goalkeepers. I never saw, in
all my career, two goalkeepers be such friends," he
said after Thursday's 1-1 draw at Old Trafford,
which saw United scrape into the final to face Ajax.
"You always have a little bit of rivalry, especially if
you are both the same kind of level. We're
speaking about the Argentina national goalkeeper
and Spain national goalkeeper.
"They support each other all the time. I never saw
a bad face, I only saw them support each other. I
think it's fair that Sergio plays the final and David
accepts that. Especially because he played two
Europa League matches, so if we win, he wins the
trophy.
"If everything goes normal and there are no
problems, Sergio plays the final."
United's preparations for the final have already
taken a hit as a result of Eric Bailly's red card in
the closing stages against Celta.
The centre-back was dismissed following an
altercation with John Guidetti during a fracas in the
middle of the pitch, which also earned Facundo
Roncaglia a straight red.
Mourinho says there is little point in appealing
against the decision and will instead use Bailly in
United's last three Premier League matches of the
season in order to grant other defenders rest.
"I don't know the incident, I don't want to see it
now," he said. "Even if it was unfair, I don't think
the rules will allow any chance of appeal. So I
don't think he plays the final, so he has to play the
remaining matches in the Premier League and give
rest to some of the others."
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