For team manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the air at Manchester United is getting thin after a tired performance in the city derby. The Red Devils were completely deservedly defeated by Master ManCity in Old Trafford with 0: 2 (0: 2) and are now six points behind the Skyblues in the English Premier League.
In the first home game after the 5-0 debacle against Liverpool two weeks earlier, the hosts were hopelessly overwhelmed from the start. City controlled the game in the 186th Manchester derby and consequently took the lead, even if Eric Bailly made an own goal (7th).
It was thanks to goalkeeper David de Gea that the score was 0: 1 until shortly before the break, but the Spaniard looked bad on the second goal by Bernardo Silva (45th). In the first round, the hosts had only one double chance through Cristiano Ronaldo and Mason Greenwood (26th).
United brought in former Dortmund Jadon Sancho after the break, but the hosts didn’t get any more dangerous. The applause at Old Trafford was significant when Solskjaer replaced permanent reserve Donny van de Beek in the 80th minute, who is very important to United fans.
ManCity had little trouble with their opponents and did not allow anything at all. Phil Foden could have increased in the last outing before the two-week international break, but hit the post (81st).
After the new bankruptcy, Solskjaer’s coaching chair wobbles all the more. Already after the debacle against Liverpool, voices had been raised calling for the Norwegian to be dismissed. During the derby against ManCity, the hashtag “OleOut” was trending on Twitter.
Criticism of Manchester United and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
Criticism of the Red Devils’ style of play also came from ex-national player Bastian Schweinsteiger via Twitter. “Passive United against active City. The idea of the game couldn’t be more different. I would like a more active United that doesn’t have to keep chasing the ball and wastes energy,” he wrote ARD-Expert. Schweinsteiger, who played for United from 2015 to 2017, had already against the Liverpool debacle Solskjaer dealt.
Ex-Bundesliga striker Jan Aage Fjörtoft wrote down Twitter: “To be 0-2 at halftime and not even get the ball in the second half is embarrassing for any home team. It is unacceptable for ManUnited.” Solskjaer must “take responsibility” for this.
Guardiola showed up at the end of the game Sky Sports satisfied. “We played our game. We have high expectations of our game, but I’m very satisfied. We needed this game.” City should not lose any more points at Chelsea: “You are currently unstoppable.”
Chelsea messes up against Burnley
The blues weren’t quite that unstoppable on Saturday afternoon. Against Burnley FC, the Champions League winner surprisingly missed the fifth win in a row.
On the eleventh match day, Thomas Tuchel’s team did not get beyond a 1-1 (1-0) against Burnley despite a goal by Kai Havertz (33rd). Matej Vydra (80th) managed to equalize for the guests. With 26 points, the Blues are still leaders in front of City (23).
