'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Manchester United's chances of appearing in Europe's club competition next year got even slimmer after a shock 2-0 away defeat to Greek champions Olympiakos in the first leg of the Champions League Round of 16 clash. Two goals either side of half-time by Alejandro Dominguez and Joel Campbell heaped more pressure on Moyes as he looks to salvage this season. Here are the five major talking points from the game.
#1 Moyes gets it wrong at the outset
When United’s team sheets were announced, there was a sense of surprise around the stadium. Neither Valencia nor Ashley Young have looked convincing this season, but yet were picked ahead of Januzaj, who was surprisingly left out and Kagawa, who was on the bench. Vidic and Ferdinand started for the second time in three days. Before long, his tactics of defending resolutely and nicking a goal on the counter was thrown out of the window.
Although defensive errors might have cost United the game, Moyes’ reluctance to change might have just cost them the tie. Although United’s wide men looked largely ineffective, Moyes persisted with them and waited until his side were 2-0 before changing things. In the end, Moyes was left looking sheepish as his defense parted like the red sea and his side failed to attack with any real conviction.
#2 United defenders on a slippery slope
This hasn’t been a vintage season for United by any stretch of the imagination, and on more than a few occasions, they have the architects of their own downfall. Testament to that was the tie against Olympiakos where even the simplest of tasks wasn’t executed by United’s defenders. On a heavily watered pitch, United’s defenders were sliding all over the place and might have just cost their side the tie.
Rio Ferdinand was careless in possession yet again and dawdled on the ball for far too long and cost his side any momentum. Patrice Evra’s age has meant that his defensive recovery runs aren’t nearly as good as they once were. And even Smalling, who had looked decent all season, had a shocker at right back. The Englishman lost his footing, misplaced his passes and needlessly conceded possession on countless occasions and showed that for all of his defensive ability, he is nowhere near as effective as a right back.
#3 United fail to switch on their passing radar
There have been times when United have had an off-day, have been days when they have been played off the park. But, in recent times, there hasn’t been a day such as the one they endured against Olympiakos. Like a car stuck in reverse, United just failed to get going as an attacking unit. Passes were being misplaced left, right and center and for all of their possession, United failed to create too many clear cut chances all night long.
Instead of creating space for the player, each pass that was played, ended up putting the receiver in even more pressure. It was almost as if every United player lost his sense of proprioception and didn’t know where his teammate was. Not only did they gift possession back to the opposition on countless occasions, the truth was, even when they had the ball, they could conjure up nothing of note.
#4 Rooney was a figure of frustration
Fresh from signing a lucrative contract that will keep him at the club until 2019 and an impressive display at Palace on Saturday, defeat in Greece would have been the last thing the forward would have had on his mind. Instead of bringing home the advantage, the side slumped to a shock away defeat that leaves their chances of progressing through to the next round very slim indeed.
It was exactly the kind of game which naysayers will point to, as they question the merits of Rooney’s new bumper contract. Whilst aggression has always been a part of Rooney’s game, this was precisely the encounter that highlighted why he is not considered as one of truly world-class players right now. Having started alongside Robin van Persie in attack, as the game went on, he slowly moved deeper and finished the game as a central midfielder. Starved of possession, Rooney resorted to throwing himself to the ground and lunging into tackles and cut a frustrated figure throughout the game. He spent much of the second half in his own half, not the kind of thing you would have wanted your £300,000 earning talisman to be doing.
#5 Olympiakos continue to scintillating start to the season
Although the Greek League isn’t nearly as competitive as the Premier League, the Greek champions showed the value of grit and determination as they walked away with a famous victory on their cards. Having lost once in their last 38 games, anybody who expected Olympiakos to just roll over had something else coming. At the full-time whistle continued their tremendous record having won all but one of their home games thus far this season.
Instead of succumbing to pressure, the home side were clinical in front of goal and highlighted the value of high-energy pressing as they pressed the opposition into making plenty of mistakes. The coach will be delighted with his players’ performances and will be looking for much of the same in the second leg, as he seeks to make history by going further than anyone before him and knocking United out of the competition.
