Sergio Romero showed Manchester United will be in safe hands in the Europa League final by saving an early penalty and producing many other great stops in a 0-0 draw at Southampton in the Premier League on Wednesday.
Filling in for David de Gea, the Argentina goalkeeper tipped aside Manolo Gabbiadini’s sixth-minute spot-kick that was awarded for a handball against Eric Bailly, which appeared to happen outside the area.
Romero was busy early in the second half as he preserved his clean sheet for United, which fielded a slew of fringe players including Wayne Rooney a week out from the Europa League final against Ajax in Stockholm.
United manager Jose Mourinho has already said Romero will start in the final ahead of regular goalkeeper David de Gea, as he has done throughout the European competition.
Anthony Martial came closest to scoring for United, curling a shot against the post in the 71st minute.
The game had little significance for either side, with United guaranteed to finish in sixth place and Southampton currently in eighth place and unable to finish any higher.
United, criticized for playing cautiously under Mourinho, has scored just two goals in its last five games. Southampton’s wait for a home goal moved past the six-hour mark, hardly a great statistic for under-pressure manager Claude Puel.
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