Europa League final RESULT, Manchester United 2-0 Ajax: Paul Pogba and Henrikh Mkhitaryan seal place in Champions League

MARTIN SAMUEL: He got it all right, on the night. The mood, the strategy, the selections, the plan. Jose Mourinho said the Europa League represented Manchester United’s safest route to Europe’s biggest tournament next season, and he was vindicated here in Stockholm.

This was as straightforward as any European fixture has been for United all season; Mourinho’s team comfortable and superior to a callow Ajax, two goals clear after 48 minutes and in control throughout.

The fear, that the emotion of a traumatic week for Manchester might overwhelm United’s players, did not materialise. They did the job of professionals, exercising their physical superiority over an Ajax team that looked younger than their years, if that was indeed possible. 

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He told BT SPORT: ‘It is the end of a difficult season but a very good season, we prefer this way than finish fourth, this second, we prefer this way. Win a title, an important title, that closes the lot, won every title in world football, have fought hard for this since the beginning, always thought we could win EL, very happy with way we played, knew how to win and did it in a comfortable way. Good team but much stronger than them.

‘If you want to press the ball all the time you don’t play short, there are lots of poets in football, the poets don’t win many titles, we knew where they were better than us, and us better than them, tries to kill them on weak points, and we deserve the trophy.'

He told BT Sport: 'We have won a trophy the club has never won so we are really happy. It means a lot as it is my first European trophy with United and after what happened yesterday it is nice to bring a trophy back for Manchester.

'It has been a really difficult week in the city of Manchester and we are happy to win for all the people that have suffered.'

He told BT SPORT: 'We did it. We are very proud. Nobody can talk. They said we had a bad season but we have three trophies (including Community Shield).'

'The start was important and after the goals we controlled the game. Great performance from everybody in the team.'

On the attacks in Manchester: "These things are terrible all over the world, in London and in Paris. We went out focused to win and we won for Manchester and the country.'

United lift the trophy as Jose Mourinho puts three fingers in the air to signify the three trophies United have lifted this season: Community Shield, Capital One Cup and now the Europa League.

'We won it for England and we won it for Manchester,' says Paul Pogba. Strong, provocative words. 

Here are the odds (courtesy of Betway)

Champions League 2017/18 Winner:

Barcelona 9/2

Bayern Munich 11/2

Real Madrid 11/2

Manchester United 16/1

Atletico Madrid 12/1

Chelsea 12/1

Juventus 12/1

Manchester City 12/1

Stay with me as I bring you all the reaction including interviews with the players and managers of both sides.

Jose Mourinho punches the air and runs over to his players. Paul Pogba goes to the fans and starts to celebrate. A deserved victory. That cannot be doubted. The experience of United shone through. 

Ajax 0-2 Manchester United

Ajax have given up. Sergio Romero, who has been brilliant in goal recently for United, samples the atmosphere before kicking the ball upfield. The ball falls to Van de Beek but Rooney makes a superb challenge. All of the United fans singing in unison: 'Manchester, Manchester, Manchester.' The players are off the bench ready to go on the pitch. Referee Damir Skomina blows his whistle and Manchester United have won the Europa League.

Four minutes of stoppage time added on 

90min: United's last substitution of the game. Wayne Rooney (for his 559th appearance) replaces Juan Mata. Mourinho making sure Rooney gets chance to play before possibly leaving the club this summer. 

86min: Tidy football from United. Plenty of grit and determination coming through but they're being clever about their play. Ajax keep coming forward. United take advantage yet again on the counter attack and Lingard is set clear. He runs all the way from the United half and into the Ajax penalty area but Sanchez catches him up and makes a challenge.

83min: Anthony Martial replaces Marcus Rashford. The 19-year-old has been crucial in getting United to the final. He receives a standing ovation. 

82min: Ajax make their last substitution. De Jong comes on for Riedewald (who has just been booked). 

80min: Smalling blocks Van de Beek's shot from just inside the United penalty area. Mourinho now has all of his players in their own half. No risks are to be taken. Ajax must attack with just 10 minutes left.

76min: Mourinho is off his seat and delivering instructions to his players from the touchline. He just needs to keep his players calm. That's before Mata goes late into a studs-up challenge on De Ligt. He goes into the referee's book as does Riedewald for his behaviour in the aftermath.

73min: First change for United. Lingard comes on for Mkhitaryan - the man who got Mourinho's side their second goal.

72min: Free-kick for Ajax just outside the United box. Mkhitaryan handles the ball while trying to win back possession. Big chance for Ajax. Ziyech and Van de Beek over the ball. Just inside the D. Romero shouts at his players in the wall. Ziyech takes it... but it goes straight into the wall. A waste of a good opportunity.

69min: Schone comes off for Van de Beek (yet another youngster). Can he make an impact with just over 20 minutes left?

67min: Bizarre goalmouth scramble ends in an Ajax corner. But Ziyech's corner this time is easily cleared and United are back on the front foot. Rashford the man who goes forward before going down in the Ajax box. He appeals for a penalty but Skomina waves play on.

65min: Rashford and Pogba link brilliantly before a superb ball is played into the Ajax box. Fellaini meets it but his header presents itself easily for Onana in goal. United now 25 minutes away from a fifth European trophy and a place in next season's Champions League.

62min: First change. Dolberg (who hasn't done much at all) is replaced by Danilo Sousa Campos. Three goals in 11 matches the former Sao Paolo man has.

60min: Ziyech plays the ball into the box but Romero collects easily. Ziyech, however, is the only Ajax player at present who is prepared to play the ball over the top. Traore could and should be doing more to take up a central position to be able to cause the United defence problems. 

58min: Penalty shout? Mata goes down after he collides with De Ligt in the Ajax area. No penalty, says Skomina.

56min: Ajax going full throttle now. Younes and Ziyech both pressing down the left side of Manchester United's defence but again they are unable to take advantage of the spaces in behind. They're also starting to get a little desperate. Veltman picks up a yellow card for a foul on Mata. United in control.

54min: 'Manchester, Manchester, Manchester,' is the chat ringing around the Friends Arena. A touching moment given what's happened this week. 

50min: Superb noise from the United end. You'd expect them now to go on and win this, as they deservedly should after a clinical performance in front of goal. Fellaini, however, isn't keeping to the script of calming this down and hacks down Schone to earn himself a yellow card.

Mkhitaryan with brilliant improvisation to put United two goals ahead. The corner came in and was flicked on by Chris Smalling before the winger hooks it past Onana. United well in control as red smoke engulfs the side of the pitch where United fans are housed.

Manchester United get us back started.

Half-time and Manchester United are 45 minutes away from winning the Europa League (and booking their place in next season's Champions League).

Mourinho will be happy with that if not delighted. After all, it was a deflected goal and Ajax have threatened through Traore and Younes. 

But the onus is not on United to attack. They will continue to invite pressure from Ajax then aim to hit them on the counter. There is no reason to go attacking at this stage.

44min: Excellent defending by Darmian. It was Traore again who burst into the box. Traore wanted to cut inside but Darmian knew that and cut him off. Appeals to Skomina to award a penalty but he gives a free-kick to United instead. 

41min: Veltman foul Pogba by pulling his shirt. Ajax starting to look a little frustrated as half-time approaches. They want to win the ball back immediately. The pressure, at this point, is very much on Ajax. United will be very pleased to go in at half-time 1-0 after scoring in such a fortuitous way.

He writes: 'So Ajax have woken up at last and have started to play. United don’t look at ease when the Dutch run at them. Next goal crucial, I would say.'

38min: Another good run by Traore. The man on loan from Chelsea is causing the most problems for United. He's not afraid to run directly at Daley Blind who just isn't strong enough to mark him. Klaassen, as expected, is also helping to conduct Ajax's attacks.

32min: Ajax playing every ball to feet against United. It hasn't worked so because Ajax haven't moved quick enough but they've just had a superb chance. Younes and Dolberg linked well before the former's ball rolled along the United six-yard box with nobody prepared to gamble. Rashford goes down holding his groin after taking a whack.

30min: First yellow card of the final shown to Henrikh Mkhitaryan. Persistent fouling on Veltman. I make that his third foul on the full back.

27min: United get a free-kick. Daley Blind takes it and plays the ball up to Fellaini. But the Belgian can't make the most of his strength this time and play is broken up. Ajax still struggling to get out of their half. Still they haven't found a rhythm.

He writes: 'That goal actually summed up the way that Ajax had started this game in that it actually came from their own throw in. Somehow Daley Blind was allowed to intercept the throw and from that moment Ajax were in trouble.

Blind was able to deflect the ball to Fellaini and when he fed it laterally to Pogba, the United midfielder was in so much space simply because the Ajax players had pushed up the field expecting to have possession. Great start by United and it remains to be seen if Ajax overcome their nerves and play the kind of football they are known for in Holland.'

23min: It's nearly 2-0 Manchester United. Antonio Valencia, United's captain tonight, sprints down the right before firing right-footed from just inside the Ajax box. Unfortunately for him it's straight at Onana and the goalkeeper clears.

21min: After all that Ajax come back on the front foot. Ziyech puts in a corner on the left but United do well to clear their lines. So far they haven't done enough to threaten United's defensive line. They're also playing very wide which suits Mourinho's men.

Dear oh dear. The ball gets played to Pogba about 25 yards away from the Ajax goal in a central position. With no obvious option he decides to shape on to his left before having a shot. The ball takes a deflection off Sanchez and wrong-foots Onana. Total disaster for Ajax.

14min: Ajax now starting to build a rhythm in their play. Klaassen is dictating play nicely while Traore is using his pace to beyond the Valencia on the right. Traore manages in one spell to get inside the United box, on the left side, but his left-footed shot crashes into the side netting of Romero's goal.

He writes: 'This has been a terribly nervous start by Ajax and United have sensed this and set about unsettling them with the intensity and aggression of their play.

'There has been nothing sophisticated about United’s football, indeed its been quite direct. But it has served to increase the young Dutch side’s sense of unease and United are well on top at the moment.'

9min: Mata and Fellaini come so close to combining for United's opener. Mata tried to angle a ball back across the Ajax box from the left but Fellaini couldn't get close to the ball as it flew across the six-yard box.

8min: Skomina awards a free-kick to Ajax. Rashford uses his strength on Sanchez. The defender goes down and a quite simple decision is made. Rashford vs Sanchez should prove to be a fascinating little battle down the United right wing.

6min: United prepared to push further up the pitch even this early in the game. Mkhitaryan will house himself on the flank and wait before springing the Ajax defence. He's just tried that but found himself in an offside position. 

3min: Very steady start. Ajax doing what United have done all season and holding back, deciding to play the ball around the defence. Pogba has a chance but volleys wide.

Damir Skomina blows his whistle and Ajax kick us off.

The captains for tonight Davy Klaassen (Ajax) and Antonio Valencia (Manchester United) shake hands before the stadium goes quiet in memory of the victims of the terrorist attack at the Manchester Arena on Monday. 

But that all changed, writes Joe Bernstein in Stockholm: 'The supposed minute's silence was overtaken by spontaneous applause in memory of the victims of Monday's terrorist attack in Manchester, but was none the less moving for that.'

Perfectly clear evening in Stockholm. About 60 per cent humidity so that could play a part. Temperature just below 19 degrees. 

No. Just his brother Florentin who plays for Saint-Etienne. He looks to be well in the mood. His brother could make a big difference tonight.

They're singing Bob Marley's classic Three Little Birds. Very emotional.

Jose Mourinho has offered his thoughts less than 30 minutes before kick-off.

He says it hasn't been easy to focus but the players have done well.

'We tried our best to focus on their game,' he said. 'It's our job. We come here to do the best we can and I think we are ready for it but not with the same happiness. But in a professional point of view I think we are ready.'

We've all heard about how young this Ajax team is but what you might not have realised is this is the youngest team in a major European final. It includes Matthijs de Ligt, 17, who is two years younger than Marcus Rashford. 

The trophy is pitchside, Ferguson is chatting away to UEFA delegates in the tunnel and both sets of fans are ramping up the volume.

JACK GAUGHAN: An easy target for reasons largely beyond his control, the spotlight has been fixed on Paul Pogba for months. Sometimes he has delivered, occasionally he has not, but the conversation surrounding him has been constant.

The Friends Arena will be the stage on which Pogba hopes to finally win punditry allies with a performance driving Manchester United into next season's Champions League and collecting another trophy along the way.

These are the nights he was bought for. Put the debate about playing as a six or an eight aside, or whether he has done enough this year, Pogba will be expected to carry them from midfield. A big, powerful display is required against the youth of Ajax.

FULL STORY HERE

The man in the middle for tonight’s game is Slovenian official Damir Skomina.

The 40-year-old has been an international referee since 2003. He was part of the team who refereed last year’s European Championship.

He refereed England’s embarrassing display against Iceland in the knockout stages.
This season he has been in charge of six Champions League games, including the quarter-final second leg between Monaco and Borussia Dortmund.

From Rashford's free-kick against Celta Vigo to the scrappy affair with Rostov.

One man who we know won't be playing any part is Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

The injured striker has just arrived at the stadium with his right foot propped up on the front of a buggy.

The man who guided Manchester United to 13 Premier League titles and two Champions League trophies has arrived at the stadium.

Sir Alex Ferguson won everything with United except for the Europa League. The Cup Winners' Cup, Super Cup and Champions League but no Europa League.

Tonight he will watch on as his friend Jose Mourinho aims to clinch silverware that isn't already in the Old Trafford trophy room.

MARTIN SAMUEL: He would have heard the noise from his penthouse at The Lowry. The muffled explosion from across town. Technically, Jose Mourinho resides in Salford. He's that side of the River Irwell, on the bank that looks across to the centre of town.

Yet he's a Manchester man, in essence. He walks, paparazzi permitting, across the Trinity Bridge to his favourite city centre restaurants. The view through his window is of Britain's second city.

Sir Alex Ferguson lived in Cheshire's golden triangle; so do most of the players at the Manchester clubs. But Mourinho is embedded in the urban centre. His accommodation may be temporary, but his location is a 10-minute walk from Manchester's heart of darkness; the place where a despicable individual, Salman Abedi, ended so many young lives, including his own.

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Thoughts are still very much with those who were affected by Monday night's terrorist attack at the Manchester Arena. 

Tonight's final will not be at the forefront of the mind for many until kick-off. Even then it's bound to be emotional. Those who have travelled to Stockholm will no doubt know somebody who was at the Ariana Granda concert.

Football can offer hope, though. In times of depression or hardship it can be the right tonic. The idea of getting on with life as though nothing has happened is not easy, however, doing things as normal (such as going to the football) can speed the healing process.

The reminders for fans are there tonight. The number of police at Stockholm's Friends Arena spells that out. There is no getting away from it but it is all, of course, entirely necessary.

JACK GAUGHAN: Here is something novel for Marcus Rashford. He's going to be an elder statesman on Wednesday night in Sweden.

The Manchester United's striker is still only 19, his continued development the source of great pride at Old Trafford, and the speed with which he came through is matched by a teenager who will mark him at the Friends Arena.

At the heart of Ajax's defence, Matthijs de Ligt is just 17 and has enjoyed an astonishing rise through the ranks over the last few months.

FULL STORY HERE

JONNY SINGER: Manchester may have been hit by a terrorist attack, but United fans are doing their best to show that the city has not been divided.

Arriving in Stockholm ahead of Manchester United's Europa League final against Ajax on Wednesday, fans showed their defiance with banners.

One group of fans posed outside the Friends Arena, where they game will be played, with a large banner which read: 'Manchester - a City United #prayformanchester'.

FULL STORY HERE

So, after all the talk and Jose Mourinh's chopping and changing with his squad, we have reached the Europa League final.

Mourinho will have you believe this has been the plan since the turn of the year. Ditch the Premier League to an extent and focus on the little brother of the Champions League.

Tonight we see if his approach has paid off. A win guarantees Champions League football for next season, while defeat will put a dampener on a season that has failed to excite.

Stay with me for pre-match build up, pictures and live updates once the game kicks off at 7.45pm.