Man Utd squad slammed for 'disrespectful' actions during Europa League medal ceremony

  Rashford was one of the United stars to remove their medal Man Utd suffered a devastating Europa League final defeat to Villarreal, but it...

 

Rashford was one of the United stars to remove their medal

Man Utd suffered a devastating Europa League final defeat to Villarreal, but it was the actions of their players during the medal ceremony that caught the attention on social media

Manchester United’s squad have been slammed for their ‘disrespectful’ actions during the Europa League final medal ceremony.

United missed out on winning their first major trophy since 2017 after they suffered a 11-10 penalty shootout defeat to Villarreal.

David De Gea was the villain of the piece after failing to stop a single Villarreal penalty and then seeing his own spot-kick saved.

The runners-up medals United’s players received were scant consolation, with some choosing to immediately take their medals off.

Stars including Harry Maguire, Marcus Rashford and Paul Pogba could all be seen removing their medals straightaway.

Some fans believe it demonstrated a winning mentality, but for others it was a disrespectful act towards their opponents and the competition.

One wrote: “It is disrespectful and ungrateful, even if a club is as storied and successful as @ManUtd, to take off their @EuropaLeague silver medals immediately upon receiving them. #EuropaLeague”

While another said: “Personal opinion: I know no one likes to be on the losing side, but the Man Utd players ripping off their runners up medals is very disrespectful.”

A third person commented: “Completely disrespectful for @ManUtd players to rip off their medals, they deserved those medals based on their performance, but should also be proud to wear them.”

United's stars were disconsolate after their Europa League final defeat

“Shocking from United players to take their medals of straight away…disrespectful and disgusting”, was the view of a fourth Twitter user.

United forward Rashford was one of those who removed his medal, and after the match he cited a desire to start winning trophies.

He said: “Second doesn't count for nothing. Manchester City win the league, we finished second. Doesn't mean nothing.

“Villarreal won the Europa League, we finished second. For us it's nothing. I don't want to here 'they were so close' because it means nothing.

“One winner, one loser. Today we lost. We have to find out why and make sure next time we don't lose.”