Darmian: We Can Be Confident For 2017/18

Matteo Darmian feels he and his Manchester United team-mates can look ahead to next season in a confident frame of mind after winning the UEFA Europa League.

The Reds ended a challenging 64-game campaign on a positive note by beating Dutch giants Ajax 2-0 in the final at Stockholm's Friends Arena to claim a sixth European honour.
 
It was the third piece of silverware United won in Jose Mourinho's first season in charge at Old Trafford, following the Community Shield and EFL Cup, and completed the club's all-time collection of major trophies.

The players may well be heading into a much-needed summer break now but Darmian couldn't resist a quick look ahead to 2017/18 and a suggestion the European success will stand the Reds in good stead.

The Italian full-back told MUTV: "We have won a very important trophy for the club, for us and for the fans. In the history of Manchester United nobody had won this trophy before so we are the first team to do it. We have made history and it's the third trophy of the season, so I think it's not bad!

"I think we deserved to win. It was a long but very good road to the final but we have won the trophy and we are happy. Now we can enjoy the summer and we will start next season with confidence."

The success in Sweden ensured the Reds qualified for next season's UEFA Champions League and secured a place in the UEFA Super Cup against either Juventus or Real Madrid on 8 August in Macedonia.

When asked if the club need to be in Europe's elite competition, Darmian said: “Yes, of course. Manchester United are used to playing [in the] Champions League. We have won the Europa League and next season we are in the Champions League. We are happy about that.”

The Europa League final was an emotional and poignant occasion for everyone associated with Manchester, coming less than 48 hours after the horrific terror attack at the city's Arena.  

"I have to say this win is not so sweet as we would have expected, because of what has happened in Manchester," Darmian said solemnly. "Of course, this win was also for the victims and their families that are now in a bad moment."