Player-by-player: United's Europa Stars

On a proud night for Manchester United, we assess each player's individual contribution at the Friends Arena in Stockholm, where the Reds finished 2016/17 as UEFA Europa League winners.

Sergio Romero: Rarely troubled in truth, but did everything he was called upon to do and looked totally unflappable. The Argentinian has been instrumental in the lifting of this trophy and was assured throughout, being rescued by Antonio Valencia on the one time he was beaten when substitute David Neres lifted it over the keeper.

Antonio Valencia: The captain on the night got forward to good effect as always and had a shot beaten away by Andre Onana in the first half. Always providing width, he was characteristically strong in defence and resolute. He got back to thwart Amin Younes and made a bone-jarring tackle on Bertrand Traore late on. There was still time for a saving clearance from substitute's Neres injury-time chance.

Chris Smalling: Pipped Phil Jones to a place and showed off his aerial prowess at every opportunity. He looked dangerous in the opposition box whenever forward and headed down to provide the assist for Henrikh Mkhitaryan's goal. His blocks were first class and a brave diving header late in the game showed his quality.

Daley Blind: Provided a vital touch to deny a run by danger-man Traore that appeared never-ending in the first period and clearly focused and in control against his former club. So composed but also aggressive in getting ahead of the strikers, he gave the Ajax forwards no joy whatsoever with an accomplished performance.

Matteo Darmian: Will be an unsung hero in this triumph but his display was pretty much faultless. An excellent piece of defending halted Traore and one mid-air cushioned ball down the line to Mkhitaryan was simply sublime. With tenacious tackling and a smothering job on the likes of Hakim Ziyech and Neres.

Ander Herrera: Voted UEFA's Man of the Match and a fiery leader in the middle of the pitch, biting into tackles and winning the ball regularly. Intelligently switching play wide to Valencia at every opportunity, he put in a real shift and justified the fans' enormous faith in him.

Paul Pogba: A tour-de-force performance in midfield, scoring the key early goal with his shot from the D that deflected off Davinson Sanchez. Virtually impossible to knock out of his stride, except when Sanchez was lucky to escape a foul when barging him over, he also flicked a great ball to Juan Mata - a first-half cross that fizzed across goal.

Juan Mata: Had that cross which almost picked out Fellaini and was involved in the first goal with a pass inside to the Belgian. Covered a lot of ground and tried to show his composure on the ball and was substituted in the closing stages after picking up a booking for a late tackle.

Marouane Fellaini: An inspired choice in a more advanced position than many thought as he bullied the Ajax players in the air and picked up no end of high balls. Strong and purposeful, he turned away from markers countless times and claimed an assist for Pogba's strike. Won aerial battles all over the field, including some important defensive ones in his own box. Was booked for a foul early in the second half.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan: Looked to be struggling to impose himself on impressive full-back Joel Veltman before supplying a moment of genius when hooking the ball over his head and into the net from close range at the start of the second half. United's European talisman collected a caution for a foul on Veltman and was substituted with his impact on this final being a decisive one.

Marcus Rashford: Ran his socks off up front as the main attacking outlet, with balls played regularly down the channels for him to sprint onto. Clearly a key part of the game plan, he was unlucky not to gain free-kicks on a few occasions after some robust defending by Sanchez in particular. Replaced with six minutes left following an unselfish shift.

Substitutes:

Jesse Lingard (for Mkhitaryan, 74): His first two touches were outstanding, flicked passes to Pogba and Fellaini, but he could have scored when racing through, only for Sanchez to muscle him out of it inside the box. Some stout defensive work in stoppage time showed his value.

Anthony Martial (for Rashford, 84): Set up Lingard with a delightful touch for the late opportunity for a third and looked keen to make an impact in his limited time on the field after the fans, as ever, chanted his name before he came on.

Wayne Rooney (for Mata, 90): A late cameo for the captain, who made one hefty challenge on Younes that got the United end roaring in approval. He lifted the silverware aloft at the end during the squad's celebrations as he completed his own set of medals, as well as the club's trophy cabinet.