Pogba, Romero, Manchester United, Ajax, Europa League
Manchester United players during a training session ahead of their Europa League final against Ajax, May 23, 2017Reuters

With the Europa League title and this season can be deemed a success; lose the final and miss out on a Champions League place, and, try as Jose Mourinho might, this season cannot be seen as anything but a failure.

So, there will be plenty of pressure on Manchester United when they play Ajax in the final of the Europa League in Stockholm on Wednesday.

With a second major trophy of the season and a Champions League spot for next at stake, Manchester United really need to do everything they possibly can to ensure they end up climbing those steps and lifting that trophy come the end of the 90 (or 120) minutes.

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United certainly have the firepower and experience to end up on the winning side, especially when you compare them to a talented, but young Ajax side.

At the end of the day, it will come down to the bigger, more high-profile players in the Manchester United lineup stepping and up putting their stamp on the game. As long as that happens, there will be only one winner.

This is where the likes of Paul Pogba, Ander Herrera, Juan Mata, and Henrikh Mkhitaryan come in. if the experienced players of Manchester United can turn domination into true effectiveness, then Ajax will struggle to stay with Manchester United.

"We have to win," Manchester United defender Phil Jones said. "It's a defining moment in our season and we need to make sure we win the game. We want Champions League football, it's what we have to do to win the game.

"We know Champions League football is the end goal, but we need to earn the right to be in the Champions League and that's by winning on Wednesday night.

"We've no God-given right to win the Europa League. We deserve to be there. We deserve to be in the final, but we have to show up and prove we are good enough and that's what we will do."

What makes Ajax so great

However, as Ajax have shown in their run to the final, they are a force to be reckoned with, particularly going forward.

With a certain Arsenal legend in Dennis Bergkamp coaching the forwards, the likes of Kasper Dolberg, Davy Klaasen and Bertrand Traore have found their mojo in front of goal, and Manchester United will want to make sure they don't hand out too many chances to these young stars.

Ajax manager Peter Bosz believes embracing the nerves that will naturally be there for the youngsters and turning that into some positive energy is the way to go in the final.

"I would send my players directly to the doctor if they weren't nervous, especially because it's their first final," Bosz said. "It's completely normal to be nervous. I just have to make sure that the nerves don't get to them.

"We have a chance to beat Manchester United if we impose our own game. I know [my players] are young so we have to prepare them. It makes my job more interesting."

Exactly 22 years ago, Ajax won the Champions League title

Where to watch live

Ajax vs Manchester United is set to begin at 8.45pm CET, 7.45pm BST, 2.45pm ET, 12.15am IST. TV and live streaming information of the Europa League final is below.

India: TV: Ten 2, Sony Six/HD, Sone ESPN/HD. Live Streaming: Sonyliv.

 

UK: TV: BT Sport 2. Live Streaming: Watch BT Sport.

 

Netherlands: TV: Fox Sports 1 and RTL 7.

 

USA: TV: Fox Sports 1. Live Streaming: FoxSoccer2Go.

 

Middle East, North Africa, Australia, Indonesia, France, Spain: TV: Bein Sports. Live Streaming: Bein Sports Connect.

 

Canada: TV: TSN 1, TSN3, TSN4, TSN5, Bein Sports. Live Streaming: TSN TV.