Herrera dedicates Europa League trophy to Manchester victims

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has donated £100,000 to the victims of Monday’s terror attack in his team’s home city through his charity The Wayne Rooney Foundation.

Manchester United delivered a José Mourinho masterclass to win a disappointing Europa League final 2-0 against Ajax, save their season and mitigate the ramifications of a hard week for the club and the city somewhat.

United are in the business of winning trophies, and they have won two this season – three if, like Mourinho, you count the Community Shield.

Mourinho, a UEFA Cup victor with Porto in 2003 and two-time European champion, has now won all four of the major European finals he has contested.

Now at United, Mourinho lifted the secondary trophy at the Friends Arena this week, entering the history books in the process.

Thank heavens too that few of us awake in the morning sure the death of a score of youngsters is just what the world needs.

“Obviously, I’m happy to be part of that and in some way help the club win trophies, and that’s the way it’s been over the last 18 months, last year, and that’s a decision I have to make now, whether I want to continue doing that or go on and play more regular football”.

City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak said: “We have all been humbled by the strength and solidarity shown by the people of Manchester in the days since the attack. No attacks, no more of that, please”. We were really, really sad because you think of life and football – you have no choice.

“Yesterday morning we were devastated”.

“We went out focused to win and we won for Manchester and the country”, he told BT Sport. This is just football but what happened two days ago was frightful.

It was the flawless ending to an otherwise gruelling and topsy-turvy season at Old Trafford, which did yield a Community Shield and EFL Cup.

A two-time European champion with Porto and Inter Milan, Mourinho once declared he did not want to win the Europa League, saying success in the competition would be a “big disappointment”.

You know, had that deflection not gone in, had Smalling not won that header, Manchester United would have scored a couple of goals some other way. “Reputation is big. Representing the biggest club in England”, the former Athletic Bilbao star said.

Asked how he will work out the decision, Rooney added: “No, I know”. To win three titles is fantastic. They love a character, a man who says the impossible just takes a little longer but in particular they love a football manager who can mould teams as he and Ferguson and the old hero Busby have done down all the years. Now talking of great season.

“Of course you want to play”, Rooney said. I wish Mr. Woodward all the success in his work because now it’s time for me to disconnect, because I’m very exhausted.