WANKDORF STADIUM — There has been much excitement over Manchester United’s new-look, Cristiano Ronaldo-fronted forward line, with the depth of options now available to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer the envy of coaches across Europe.
Whenever the Norwegian has been asked about how he plans to utilise his wealth of talent in recent weeks he has struggled to suppress a beaming smile.
But while goals will not be difficult to come by with Ronaldo the poacher through the middle, flanked by any one of Mason Greenwood, Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford, Edinson Cavani, Jesse Lingard or Anthony Martial, further back, things appear the same as they always were.
Ronaldo did his bit, but basic errors gifted Young Boys a famous 2-1 win in the Swiss capital on Tuesday night, wiping Solskjaer’s smile clean off, as he got a stark reminder just how far off, defensively, United are from being the team he and many fans thought they were following their summer spending spree.
It's disappointment for Man Utd, as Young Boys snatch it late in Switzerland!
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) September 14, 2021
Jesse Lingard makes a costly error and Jordan Siebatcheu nips in to apply the finish and send the home crowd wild!#UCL pic.twitter.com/vZimQoMaIz
On paper, it looked an auspicious start to another Champions League campaign for United in the pleasant surroundings of Bern.
United fans, who had not had it easy in getting to the Swiss capital in these Covid times, basked in the mid-September sun, taking a break from sampling the local tipples to visit the surprising and unexplained Bear Pit – a caged-off enclosure next to the river. It is not part of a larger zoo, just two bears, free to be watched at the leisure of anyone passing by.
The United players were being put their paces in a vigorous pre-match warm-up as if being readied to be thrown into the pit themselves, with the back four pulled to one side to work on drills separately. Aaron Wan-Bissaka certainly had no excuses not to be prepared.
Ronaldo’s name was loudly booed by the raucous crowd, whose tifo game was on point to welcome United into a cauldron-like atmosphere, and the home side started well on the zippy, artificial pitch.
Ronaldo, who equalled the all-time Champions League appearance record with a second successive start for United, matching former Real Madrid team-mate Iker Casillas’ 177, could not get a kick in the opening stages but all he needs is one chance, and in this team bursting with chance creators he is always going to get them.
The 13th-minute cross from Bruno Fernandes was ridiculous. With the outside of his boot, he picked out the perfectly-timed run of Ronaldo and the relationship had begun. It helps when you have someone like Ronaldo whose feet somehow just attract a football like moths to a flame.
It just had to be him, didn't it! ????
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) September 14, 2021
Cristiano Ronaldo gives Man Utd the lead at Young Boys!
Three goals in two appearances. A fairytale return to the Red Devils so far! pic.twitter.com/NpbHZOySKU
A man with the opposite problem is Wan-Bissaka. With his team-mates in cruise control, he inexplicably miscontrolled a routine pass before lunging into a studs-up challenge to earn himself a straight red card, making a relatively comfortable task for United a much more difficult one.
Christian Fassnacht then almost immediately levelled to really spell trouble for United, but dragged an effort well wide.
As the half-time whistle went, the United bench had seen enough and were readying Raphael Varane, with experienced heads needed to see the result out. The lesser-spotted Donny van de Beek, on his chance to shine, the unfortunate man to make way.
It was backs to the wall for United and the home crowd sensed blood. The mistakes were creeping in, and it appeared a matter of time before the home side got themselves level. The only surprise was that it was Varane who was beaten to the cross by Nicolas Moumi Ngamaleu, who poked home. Pandemonium ensued.
Ronaldo was then substituted as Solskjaer changed formation once again, and it looked like United had done enough to earn a battling point.
But a woeful back-pass from substitute Lingard, another inexcusable mistake, gifted Jordan Siebatcheu the chance to snatch a famous victory for the side fourth in the Swiss top flight, which he converted to give everyone in the Wankdorf Stadium a night to remember.
Solskjaer won’t forget this chastening experience for a while, either. Since Ronaldo walked back through the door, all the talk has been on when and how many titles United can now aim for.
With defending like that in Bern, the chances of the trophy cabinet being refreshed have reverted back a step or two.
from Football – inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/3k9ecHa
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