Manchester United lost against Young Boys in their first Champions League game this season. The fallout from the defeat was not good, with many fans calling for Ole to get sacked. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer divides opinion amongst the fan base because of his style of play. This article looks at whether the loss is a cause for concern.
Ole was defensive after the red card
Ole substituted Dalot for Sancho because Wan Bissaka got sent off. In the second half Solskjaer switched to a back five during the interval, bringing Raphael Varane in place of Donny van de Beek. In the second half, Matic came on for Bruno. This substitution meant that United was defending for the majority of the second half.
Manchester United have not done well in the Champions League under Ole
Ole has not done well in the Champions League. During his time at United, he has lost seven games in 11 outings. He has lost four of his last five games in the Champions League. It is concerning that they found themselves in the Europa League after winning their first two group games last season. The transfer window United had meant there are no excuses for underperforming in Europe.
It’s too early in the season
The loss against Young Boys came early in the season. Losing early to Young Boys is a blessing in disguise as United can learn from their mistakes. If United can learn from their mistakes, they will progress into the last 16. Making these mistakes now is better than making these mistakes deep into the competition.
Manchester United have the quality to qualify
United has star-studded quality in their squad. The squad consists of Cristiano Ronaldo, Jadon Sancho, Raphael Varane, and Paul Pogba. The quality that they possess means that there should be no problem qualifying for the last 16. United should not be complacent because they could quite possibly lose against Villarreal or Atalanta if they lose focus.
Conclusion
The loss against Young Boys is not a concern. Manchester United can still qualify for the last 16. The club can learn from the mistakes made early on instead of deep in the competition. However, Ole needs to do better in the Champions League.
