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Manchester United capped off a poor display to close out the nervy UEFA Champions League match against Young Boys as 1-0 winners. It was another match at Old Trafford with the same old hand-to-chest feeling for the supporters. United boss Jose Mourinho needed a reaction from his players following a string of poor results and performances alike. Did he get it? Definitely not, as they crumbled once again before their home fans.
It was the sort of night that required the full force of Manchester United to reign upon their comparatively inferior opposition. A quick look at the stats will tell you that United masked what was otherwise a very poor match -- 21 shots at goal with 14 of them being off target.
The players could have easily deceived the number of attempts at goal. In fact, it is Young Boys, without their three key men, that seemed like the real deal on Tuesday night. When the dust settled, three things came out clearly from this tie:
#3 De Gea has still got it
Spanish number one goalkeeper David De Gea silenced critics by reminding the world why he was regarded as the best in the last two seasons. No goalkeeper can be blamed for conceding from a deflected shot. Sometimes it is not humanly possible for a goalkeeper to move one way and change direction to make a save.
The highlight of the tie was in the 70th minute. Young Boys had a corner and Ulisses Garcia's goal-bound shot deflected off Kevin Mbabu, destined to be a certain goal. In that split second, De Gea pulled one of the saves of the season at the goal line to keep the scores level. He has been criticized for conceding so many goals this season but he is crucial for the Red Devils.
#2 Little to no improvement
Manchester United demonstrated little to no improvement from their previous matches. This match mirrored the same troubles they have been facing all season. Here was an inferior opponent ripe for the taking at Old Trafford. It was a perfect opportunity to shift gears and give the fans a proper performance.
The collective defensive approach by the team exposed them at the back. A half decent team would have probably won the match on Tuesday. There was no intensity and real creativity in the side. Even the notion of United turning up in second halves of matches proved to be just a myth.
It is no surprise that supporters started walking off the stadium with five minutes left to play. Surely, Mourinho needs to realize that Nemanja Matic needs a rest. If a towering midfield combination of Matic and Marouane Fellaini could not tame a side like Young Boys, then United are destined for darker days.
#1 United are afraid to attack
Mourinho has enshrined so much defensive tactics in his side that United are afraid to attack. The forward players have begun to lack confidence even when on fast breaks. They simply do not know what to do with the ball when there is an opening. It is clear that United have a poor defence so why not switch tactics? An all-out attack would have been United's best strategy.
It guarantees goals in such matches and gives the teams comfortable leads. Mourinho should have taken note that United looked more threatening in the second half because of more direct and forward play. There were long balls into the box for target men Fellaini and Romelu Lukaku, one of which resulted in a goal.
A good manager should know when it is time to shake things up. Mourinho's refusal to evolve to the modern demands of the game will rest assured maintain the current hand-to-chest moments whenever United step out to play.
