'Creative players, who can create big moments.' - Solskjaer.

FT: Man Utd 6-2 Roma

Solskjaer pleased with performance of Man Utd creative players [GETTY]

Manchester United delivered a stunning second-half performance to smash Roma 6-2 in the Europa League semi-final first leg on Thursday night.

Edinson Cavani and Bruno Fernandes both registered a brace as Paul Pogba and Mason Greenwood also found the target as United cruised to victory at Old Trafford.

The triumph puts the Red Devils in a good position ahead of next week’s second leg in Rome, with the Serie A club needing to score four goals without conceding on the day.

Following the tie boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer expressed his delight while speaking to BT Sport: "No I don't feel the job is done but it was a good job done. We did well but we know they have quality.

"They scored two goals from the two chances we gave them. They didn't have loads of chances against Ajax.

"The second half was very good."

When told ex-Reds now pundits Owen Hargreaves and Paul Scholes would have made changes to the midfield at half-time, the Norwegian replied: "It's easy up there thinking who should play... but who should not play?

"That's a very good team, it worked really good against Tottenham. Mason Greenwood should be disappointed not to be playing but it's about balance. Maybe those two should try to leave players out and pick a team with balance.

"We know we have got creative players who can create big moments. Paul Pogba's position today was very good in that position, he's allowed some freedom. He's got the foundation behind him. The difference today is we took most of our chances.

"The character showed that they came back and didn't lose their heads. Maybe five or 10 minutes at the end of the first half, we didn't look great but we got ourselves together. The two goals are junior, schoolboy errors that shouldn't happen at this level."

French midfield maestro Paul Pogba added: "The result is positive but it's not finished. We will have to say focused and play a nice game with the same mentality.

"In the first half, we had two mistakes and conceded two goals. We were a bit all over the place after the second goal.

"At half-time, we said let's do the right things, let's do simple things. The manager spoke. We were all motivated to score as many goals as possible."

On the penalty decision against him, Pogba asserted: "Just don't tackle. I don't know how to tackle. I try to be the English guy. I need to practice more. It's unlucky. I've been unlucky a lot this season with penalties."

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