Manchester United pay for inconsistency in the Champions League
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Since the start of the season, Manchester United have been a highly inconsistent mess. Some games they show up and dazzle, yet some the players look like they have never met before. Unfortunately for the Red Devils, they endured one of the latter matches on Tuesday night.
They travelled to RB Leipzig only needing a draw to book their place in the last-16 of the Champions League. Despite a late rally in the final 15 minutes, United suffered a 3-2 defeat to exit the competition after a disastrous first half.
Fresh from another topsy-turvy display against West Ham at the weekend, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team endure a nightmare start. Within 13 minutes, they were two goals down courtesy of superb strikes from Angelino and Amadou Haidara. It could have been much worse in the first period, as Emil Forsberg missed a fantastic opportunity and Willi Orban saw a goal chalked off for offside.
Leipzig backed off slightly in the second period but virtually sealed the game on 69 minutes through a well taken Justin Kluivert effort. United were handed a lifeline on 80 minutes, as they were gifted a soft penalty, which Bruno Fernandes duly dispatched.
Two minutes later the visitors scored again, as Paul Pogba’s far post header hit Harry Maguire's arm and Ibrahima Konate’s leg before beating Peter Gulacsi. They pushed for a late equaliser, but one failed to materialise.
The result may have been disappointing, but it certainly wasn’t surprising because of United’s inconsistency this season.
On their day, the Red Devils could give most teams in Europe a game, but unfortunately you just never know what you are going to get with this squad of players.
Their Jekyll and Hyde form has ultimately cost them a place in the knockout stages of Europe’s elite competition. They are not just paying for the defeat on Tuesday night, but also the loss at Istanbul Basaksehir on matchday 2.
Manchester United will never return to the top of the football tree until they cut out their inconsistency. Until then they will be nearly men of the game.
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