(Everton – Manchester United 1-0) The hope of a “top four” place and Champions League games next season fades for Manchester United. On Saturday, Frank Lampard and Everton became too strong.
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It was a dream day for Everton fans. The three-pointer could prove to be vital for the blue club from Merseyside, which won its first football match since March 17. The victory against Manchester United gave Lampard’s men four points clearance to relegation place, right enough with one game more played than table neighbor Burnley.
This was the former Chelsea manager’s third league win since taking over at Goodison Park in January.
Former Manchester United captain and current Sky Sports expert Gary Neville is not gracious with the old club.
– United is a joke, he writes on Twitter.
– Of course we are disappointed. In the second round we had to do something. “They defended themselves with all their players in the last 35 minutes, but we could not find the right players at the right moments,” Manchester United manager Ralf Rangnick told BT Sport.
Ronaldo, for his part, showed how he felt the pressure:
He denies that speculation about who will take over the chairmanship after him this summer affects his job.
– No, there is no excuse. We are Manchester United. Whether such a decision is made and announced now or in ten days, it should have no bearing, the German believes.
After a miserable first half hour, the match finally got what it was screaming for: a goal. The youngster Anthony Gordon sent the home team in front, via the back of Manchester United captain Harry Maguire.
–The goal came after what was the home team’s first involvement within Manchester United’s 16-meter. Before that, it was Marcus Rashford who was closest to scoring at Goodison Park, without the guests having impressed significantly.
After the score, the match came to life more. The duels got tougher and the noise in the stands really increased. The closest goal towards the break was Everton and Richarlison, but shooting stopper David de Gea made sure that the difference remained on one goal as the teams went into the locker room at half time.
After a Manchester United round that TV 2’s Jesper Mathisen summed up as bad, it was not all the world’s improvement to be traced after the side change.
–The closest equalizer was Cristiano Ronaldo well into overtime, but Jordan Pickford and Everton resisted well. Anthony Gordon’s goal was the only one at Goodison Park.
The distance for Manchester United up to the top four stays at three points. Fourth-placed Tottenham have one game less played, while Arsenal have two hanging games to spare.
– We are not good enough, that’s for sure. It will be very difficult to end up in the top four, says Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea.
Ralf Rangnick’s victory percentage in Manchester United is now 47 percent in the league context, according to statistics provider OptaJoe. It’s the worst of all time.
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