Manchester United 1-0 Aston Villa
MANCHESTER // As a relegation that has long seemed inevitable was rubber-stamped, the Aston Villa fans raised banners. "From Rotterdam to Rotherham," one read. They won the European Cup at Rotterdam's De Kuip stadium in 1982. They are set to visit Rotherham next year as members of the Championship.
Another featured the facts. “Four managers, three wins, two CEOs,” it proclaimed. However Aston Villa look at it, this campaign has been catastrophic. Their destiny is determined now, their embarrassment entrenched, their humiliation complete.
“It is devastating,” said Eric Black, the caretaker who is the fourth of those managers.
This day has been coming, perhaps for six seasons, but especially in a year when Villa have lost both their identity and far too many games. Their team went down with barely a whimper. The only spirit came from the travelling fans, who were cheeky, heartfelt and loyal.
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"I am humbled by the support," said Black. Gallows humour is one way of coping with Villa's plight and their followers taunted Manchester United for their failure to score in the first 90 seconds. When Kieran Richardson blazed an effort into the Stretford End, they chorused: "We've had a shot."
Yet when behind, supporters called for owner Randy Lerner to go and chanted “we want our Villa back.” By the end, the banners came out. The fans are the one cog of the club who are blameless for this horrific year but most of his players could not make the effort to go over and acknowledge them after the game. “There is a disconnect,” Black said.
This year has been awful and Premier League ever-presents will retreat to the lower leagues for the first time since promotion in 1988.
In contrast, Manchester United may yet return to Europe’s premier club competition. This victory, unimpressive and uneventful as it was, maintained hopes of a top-four finish. The potent Marcus Rashford did impress, and the seventh goal of his embryonic United career means their campaign continues on two fronts. Somehow, anyway.
The scoreline was an indictment of them nevertheless. Villa had conceded 24 goals in their previous eight games. Louis van Gaal’s team only struck once, and, while Rashford shot wide and Memphis Depay struck the post, rarely threatened a second goal.
“We have to give more entertainment to the fans,” Van Gaal accepted. Their dullness nearly proved costly. United were almost denied victory when Rudy Gestede struck the post, two minutes after his introduction. Seconds later, Ciaran Clark belatedly recorded Villa’s first effort on target. Yet that came in the 84th minute of a game they needed to win.
United were little better. The goal came from a rare moment of quality. On his first start since February, Wayne Rooney found Antonio Valencia with a 50-yard ball. The Ecuadorian’s centre was met by Rashford with a backheeled flick.
“A marvellous goal,” said Van Gaal, but it was out of keeping with a mediocre game. These scarcely resembled two clubs with four European Cups, 27 league titles and 18 FA Cups between them.
Quite what Villa will look like next season is anyone’s guess.
“I have been involved in relegation at Birmingham and we lost 15 players and brought in 16 or 17,” Black added. “It is a massive transformation to go down to the Championship. Some players you want to keep and won’t be able to. Some you want to get rid of and won’t be able to.”
Man of the Match: Marcus Rashford (Manchester United)
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