United Demoted

2005-06 vs Benfica, 2011-12 vs FC Basel and 2015-16 vs VfL Wolfsburg. These were the Champions League matches that Manchester United needed to get a positive result in to qualify for the knockout stages and failed to do so. Now added to this list of ignominious defeats and disappointing exits from Europe’s elite club competition, 2020-21 vs RB Leipzig.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axTUw9IOEKo

Tough Group

United was in the same group as the mega-rich, perennial champions of France, Paris Saint-Germain and a controversial but upcoming German club, RB Leipzig. Both teams were semi-finalists in last season’s Champions League with the French club finishing runners-up. It was a tough group to be part of but we started the campaign like a dream. We beat both PSG and Leipzig comfortably and with some style. We looked odds on favourites to qualify before our return fixtures against both these clubs.

Where It Went Wrong?

Where it all went wrong from a promising position was in an unfateful, disastrous trip to Istanbul. We sent shockwaves around Europe by losing narrowly to Istanbul Basaksehir. Not much of a shock if you follow United or the Premier League though. We were horrible on the night, making some schoolboy errors in defence to gift the Turkish champions two goals and failing to break down a resolute defence. That defeat came back to haunt us this morning.

We were better than PSG for at least 40 minutes of the return fixture at Old Trafford but if you don’t take your chances, it will come back to bite you in the backside at this level. That is what happened. This morning, we were not tight enough defensively and gave Leipzig the freedom of the land to attack us and they duly punished us. Once again, when we had a chance at a crucial moment in the game, we didn’t take it. In the end, it was a little too late. After coming from behind in all our previous away Premier League wins, the deficit against Leipzig became a mountain too high to climb. The difference in quality between the sides we face in the Champions League and the Premier League was highlighted. We came unstuck as a comeback was mounted too late in the game.

Solksjaer’s Failings

Ole Gunnar Solksjaer, praised for his tactical set-up against PSG and Leipzig in the first encounters was exposed for his naivety in both return fixtures. The hesitance at replacing a player walking a disciplinary tightrope, Fred against PSG. The bemusing substitutions against Leipzig as we chased a result and lack of mental and tactical preparedness. All these would point out to the lack of depth and experience of managing a big club such as Manchester United at the elite level. It would only sharpen the knives of those waiting to plunge into him and he allowed them to do so. At this level, it is ruthless and merciless. We might have been in a tough group but relinquishing the position of power and control in the group to exit from the Champions League is completely unacceptable.

Responsibility of the Players

The players too have a part to play in United’s exit. Defensive howlers against Basaksehir, profligacy against PSG and Leipzig, lack of defensive organisation and solidity against Leipzig. It is all on the part of the players. We were spineless as we were rocked by Leipzig. We could have easily found ourselves to be 0-3 down in the first-half itself if not for the VAR. Once again the lack of leadership at the back and in the team will be highlighted. Bruno Fernandes was marked out of the game and we found it tough to get things going in the final third against Leipzig.

 

More On The Match vs RB Leipzig

I have nothing against the 3-5-2 or 5-3-2 we lined up with against Leipzig. We employed it with great efficiency against PSG this season and in other big games last season. What was missing was the concentration, focus and character. Aaron Wan Bissaka was exposed, exemplifying my point that we need a quality right-back with experience to provide competition. Why was Luke Shaw starting when he was just returning from a long injury layoff? Why was Alex Telles brought off at half-time when he has been playing consistently in the previous weeks? He wasn’t playing too badly either. Shaw was eventually brought off as he ran out of steam. Why did we bring on defenders Tim Fosu-Mensah and Axel Tuanzebe when we were chasing down a deficit? We had Dan James, Odion Ighalo, Juan Mata and Jesse Lingard waiting in the wings. We should have thrown caution to the wind in such circumstances.

Europa League Beckons

All that hard work and resilience in qualifying for the Champions League turned out to be a false dawn. We find ourselves back in the Europa League and I suspect, we will field players that have lesser playing time in this competition until the later stages of the tournament. Doing well there and winning the Europa League would be good for the team’s development and experience. But can we find the consistency to do so? We will surely be taunted and criticised to no end after this exit going into the Manchester derby on Saturday. The pressure will be high but normally in such cases, we tend to produce the goods. Let’s see which United turns up.