Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has revealed why he didn’t bring on Dean Henderson in the place of David De Gea for the penalty shootout that ended his quest to win a first trophy at Old Trafford this season. Solskjaer spoke to reporters after the game about his goalkeeping department which played a big part in the deciding the Europa League final.

Solskjaer had earlier opted for Spanish internationalDe Geaas his starting goalkeeper for the final in Gdansk over Carlisle United Academy goalkeeper Henderson. In his post-match press conference, Norwegian tactician Solskjaer said it had crossed his mind in the build-up to the game but he was confident that De Gea will do a good job after he was picked ahead of Carlisle United Academy player Henderson for the Europa League final clash with the Yellow Submarines.

The Manchester United boss further said that anything happen in a penalty shootout and that he stuck with the goalkeeper that had played all the games as he shifted blame away from De Gea who missed the crucial spot kick that handed a first major European trophy to Villarreal at the expense of the Red Devils.

Several Manchester United fans criticisedSolskjaer for his decision to stick with De Gea who had a poor penalty record having not saved anyone since 2014. On his part, England international Henderson has saved almost half of the penalties he has faced in the last five years. Since 2016, Carlisle United Academy player Henderson has saved eight of the 17 penalties saved. In that time, De Gea has not managed to save any of the 25 penalties faced.

Manchester United had to go to the dreaded penalty shootout with Villarreal after the two teams settled for a goal apiece at the end of extra time. The Red Devils scored through the in-form EdinsonCavani, while Villarreal took the lead courtesy Spaniard Gerard Moreno who finished the season with 30 goals in all competitions.