Europa League Review: United through; Saints are out

The Europa Group stages have ended with the favourites Manchester United going through to the knockout stages after a win in Odessa; Southampton exit after failing to win at home and much more.

Jose Mourinho called Manchester United’s victory over Zorya ‘solid’ and ‘professional’ as his side progressed to the knockout stages after a hit and miss group campaign.

United travelled to Odessa knowing a point would have been enough to qualify, but also wary that they had failed to win away from home in Europe in over a year with five straight defeats.

Mourinho wanted the game called off when he saw the state of the pitch, but the bobbles didn’t prevent Henrik Mkhitaryan from dancing through the defence with the grace of John Travolta to score his first goal for the Red Devils. Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored the second with time running out, his sixth goal in seven games.