It was an evening to forget in Bilbao as Manchester United fell to a 1-0 defeat in the UEFA Europa League final to Tottenham Hotspur.
While Man United enjoyed the lion’s share of possession – 73% to be exact – they were unable to make it count, with all of their 16 shots failing to find the back of the net.
Spurs, in contrast, made the most of their few opportunities, having taken just three shots throughout the entire encounter.
But while there were several United players who could be commended for their large efforts to bring United back into the contest, Mason Mount was not one of them.
Prior to being substituted in the 71st minute, Mount was largely absent from United’s build-up play, having minimal impact on his team’s performance.
The attacking midfielder failed to provide any attacking threat up front, taking absolutely no shots throughout the match.
While he completed his only dribble, this clearly had no effect in the grand scheme of things.
Making just 11 passes, he delivered eight of them to their intended target for a 73% passing accuracy.
Mount attempted no crosses while failing to complete his only long ball of the match.
More importantly, he failed to make a single key pass, showing his ineffectiveness in the final third.
If there was one redeeming quality that the English international exhibited, it was his defensive efforts.
Mount made two tackles and performed a clearance, meaning that he did at least have an impact on his side’s defensive efforts.
Another one of the few impressive aspects of his gameplay was his physicality. Mount won five of six ground duels while failing to win his only aerial duel.
Still, even when taking this into account, Mount seemed to be a shadow of his former self, especially when compared to how he played against Athletic Club in the semi-finals.
Although it was a painful defeat for United, perhaps Mount will be able to continue his integration into the squad next season, particularly with an easier schedule given that European football is off the table.
(Stats via Sofascore)
Featured image Ryan Pierse via Getty Images
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Mathew Cohen A faithful Manchester United supporter, Mathew has worked as a football writer and analyst for SB Nation, FanSided, and now The Peoples Person. Mathew’s heroes include David Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Sir Alex Ferguson, all of whom played their part in creating some special childhood memories.
