STOCKHOLM — A guttural roar of “Manchester, Manchester” thundered around Friends Arena at the final whistle.
Purely in soccer terms, Manchester United’s 2-0 victory over Ajax in the Europa League final on Wednesday was a triumph of huge significance.
On a wider level, it was also a moment to cheer for the team’s home city, grieving 1,200 miles away.
Manchester, England, was plunged into tragedy on Monday when 22 people were killed by a bomb attack at an Ariana Grande concert in the city center. United’s players flew to Sweden with heavy hearts, vowing to deliver a display in their biggest match of the season that would serve as a tribute to the victims and their families.