On the night Ronaldo CR7 equalled his former teammate Iker Casillas’s Champions League appearance record, he scored his 135th goal in his 177th appearance in the Champions League. However in what was developing into a serene evening for United was spoilt by the careless lunge of Aaron Wan-Bissaka and then a 95th minute winner following a rash back pass from Jessie Lingard. Jadon Sancho was the unlucky player to be sacrificed.
This first of six group games was United’s first defeat of the season. United will need to meet Atalanta and Villarreal, with of course no guarantee of maximum points. Beating Young Boys both at home and away had been assumed.
Who is to blame for this debacle? A Supporters Poll on Mirror Sport was 77% in disagreement with Ronaldo having being brought off. On the Social Media, many supporters were of the view that the match was lost from the bench, strongly disagreeing with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s tactical decisions. With United having brought a legend back home, signed one of the game’s greatest defenders and added one of the brightest prospects in European football, it all , in the end, depends on the Manager’s tactics.
Man of the Match? Difficult to choose but I would opt for Raphael Varane. He was introduced at half-time as Solskjaer shifted to a back three but defended well the crosses into the box.
It was thus a nightmare start for United in Group F. The Reds welcome Villarreal – who beat United in the Europa League final three months ago – to Old Trafford in two weeks’ time. United are now in desperate need of points.
Article contributed by Contributor Kenneth. Comments are appreciated on our Facebook page.