After eleven rounds played, Manchester United have already lost ground to the top teams in the Premier League and most recently, the English big club comes from a clear loss against city rival Manchester City (0-2). In other words, it was a pressured United who faced Watford away on Saturday afternoon.
In Raphaël Varane’s absence, Victor Nilsson Lindelöf took a place in the central defense together with Harry Maguire. Mason Greenwood tested positive for covid-19 before the match and was missing, which opened up for Jadon Sancho who took a seat on the right in the offensive midfield behind Cristiano Ronaldo. New Watford coach Claudio Ranieri managed to do without Ken Sema, who is currently suffering from a knee injury.
Manchester United looked set to have a nightmare start on Vicarage Road. Already in the sixth minute, Scott McTominay caused a penalty after Bruno Fernandes missed a pass in his own half.
David De Gea, however, saved the penalty, but on the return Kiko Femenia stayed ahead and shot the ball into goal – but the penalty went over. Femenia had in fact run into the penalty area too early. Ismaila Sarr, who missed the first penalty, got the chance again from eleven meters – but again saved De Gea.
Watford were the better team after the penalty drama and when the match clock stood at 28 minutes, they took the lead. Norwegian Joshua King stayed in front of goal and was able to push in a low post to 1-0. Then it was not long before it was 2-0.
Ismaila Sarr, who burned two penalties, got revenge and with a well-placed finish in goal, he extended the lead on Vicarage Road.
2-0 deficit at halftime. Then United coach Ole Gunnar Solskjær chose to make a double change. Marcus Rashford and Scott McTominay went out, Anthony Martial and Donny van de Beek came in – which paid off.
Five minutes into the second half, van de Beek nodded in the reduction goal, played by Cristiano Ronaldo. Manchester United grabbed the game after the goal and created several equalizing chances – including Ronaldo missed a free kick.
In the middle of the equalizer hunt, Manchester United went on a setback. Harry Maguire dropped the ball on his own half of the field and in the sequence afterwards the team captain handed a tackle to Tom Cleverley whereupon the referee blew a free kick and gave Maguire his second yellow card.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, United continued to create chances. Bruno Fernandes shot over in a good position and Ronaldo got a goal ruled out for offside. Watford, however, managed to hold off and in overtime, Joao Pedro extended the lead before Emmanuel Dennis set the final score at 4-1.
The loss was Manchester United’s fifth of the season in twelve games and in a limping table they are now in seventh place.
– When you look at Solskjaer, he almost has tears in his eyes. I’m not trying to throw it in his face, but he has an appearance that when it rains, it pours down, says former English national team player Martin Keown according to the BBC and continues:
– He is one of their own, part of the family in the club but they can not ignore that he is part of the problem. A change of coach is inevitable.
Alan Hutton was also questioning about the Norwegian’s future as United coach.
– What happens now with Ole Gunnar Solskjær? United have reached the bottom, that’s all I can say, he says according to the BBC.
The pressure is now increasing on coach Ole Gunnar Solskjær. Earlier this week reported namely Manchester Evening News that United have already decided to fire the Norwegian – the question the club management is thinking about is when it is the right time for his replacement to come in.
Startelvor:
Watford: Foster – Femenia, Cathcart, N’Koulou, Masina – Sissoko – Sarr, Louza, Cleverley, Dennis – King.
Manchester United: De Gea – Wan-Bissaka, Lindelöf, Maguire, Shaw – McTominay, Matic – Sancho, Fernandes, Rashford – Ronaldo.
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