Manchester United crash out of the Champions League after a 1-0 defeat at home against Bayern Munich.
It was a night where United were defensively organised but it was quiet in the final third. So quiet that Manuel Neuer could have had a snooze between the sticks.
It was a seventh defeat at Old Trafford for the Reds this season.
Here are our three talking points from the game:
Created too little for a side hopeful of progress in the competition
Manchester United have struggled to score goals for the most part of this season, but not in Europe. On Tuesday night we didn’t look like a team desperate to win the match with a lacklustre approach to attacking in the final third.
I felt a degree of sympathy for Rasmus Hojlund in the first-half as he struggled against Bayern’s two elite centre-backs. That said, he held up possession better after the break, but our overall attacking play was non-existent.
For instance, Manuel Neuer didn’t have a single shot to deal with.
United were solid but you could tell we were up against far superior opposition.
Injuries rack up
Erik ten Hag added two more players to his injury list tonight – in the first-half – after having to take off defensive duo Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw.
Maguire held his groin after feeling a strain, while Shaw was seen gesturing at the bench prior to the interval. The left-back appeared to feel discomfort with his hamstring.
It comes at a terrible time for United with Liverpool away on Sunday, but we’ve had an array of injuries to deal with throughout the season. This is just another kick in the teeth.
Out of Europe
The Reds finished bottom of Group A – topped by Bayern Munich while Copenhagen finished the group as runners-up. This was a group stage there for the taking but our players only have themselves to blame.
I don’t think we really need to be in the Europa League – playing games on Thursday nights for the second half of the season – and, with the injuries we’ve suffered this season, maybe it would be best to focus on the Premier League and addressing our domestic form.
I’m disappointed that this means we’ve no more Euro aways to look forward to, however, none of us expected this United side to go all the way in the competition.
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