Manchester United will go into next week’s second leg with only an away goal after a dominant performance in Belgium tonight, but once again they were unable to win the game.
Our of nowhere and after Manchester United had been in total control of the game, Anderlecht scored with their first shot on target. In the 86th minute Obradovic delivered a great cross in towards Dendoncker who powered his header past Romero.
The sad truth is that even when we do show passion and desire to get a goal, the chances do come, but the finishing lacks quality.
One player which we need to highlight is Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Even though he wasn’t at his best today and he hasn’t been as clinical as he should have been this season, his importance is undeniable. He knows. He knows that a one goal lead is not enough. He knows the importance of killing off the game and striving for another goal. Just after the opener, video replays showed Ibra yelling to his teammates “we need to do more, we need to do more lads!”. This is the mentality that every player needs to have at our club! We need to do more.
We face Chelsea on Sunday in the Premier League and we will go in as the underdogs. But the truth is, we can beat them. We need to be at our best and play with intent and passion for the whole game. Lets go into the game with a positive attitude and with optimism. I don’t want to sound too pessimistic after today’s result because a 1-1 draw away to Anderlecht isn’t a bad result and does give us the upper hand at Old Trafford next week, but I want what is best for our club and I want to see us strive. The frustrating thing is that we are capable, but we just “need to do more”!
Jose Mourinho: “We have to kill matches. We had chances, we had control, but in one mistake we were punished”