Much has been made in recent months of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team’s inability to do it against the smaller clubs and through all the talk and the media circuses, it’s a huge, huge problem for us.
Some of that talk has been about it being a phycological problem, with rumours that Solskjaer might even be getting a psychologist or a counsellor in, and I think that Wednesday night’s result against Burnley was a perfect example of that.
We dominated the game, if you look at the stats there’s tonnes more possession, efforts, efforts on target and corners for the Red Devils – the Clarets only had two shots on target which to our misfortune, were two very well-taken goals.
Yes, some of the defending wasn’t great and the midfield battle was lost at times, with the visitors clearly having more strength and physicality about them.
Furthermore, Solskjaer’s boys did lack a cutting edge in attack and are really missing Marcus Rashford, but there was an element of luck or bad luck about the result despite these underlying issues which, don’t get me wrong, must be addressed.
I wouldn’t say he changed the game, though as ever, Mason Greenwood looked good when he came on at half-time and had he been starting, we might well be looking at a different outcome entirely – we might be putting the pressure on Chelsea rather than looking over our shoulders at Spurs.
Two defeats in succession never look good, especially with a formidable opponent in Wolves up next in the league, a match in which the odds are too close to call and you can see more at apuestas24.
But, between now and then we have a cup tie that will give us the opportunity to get the winning feeling back and a much-needed boost of confidence.
Ole talked after the game about needing quality signings and we all know that he’s not wrong, we can’t ignore the issues within the recruitment strategy and board.
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However, we’re in fifth and still fighting, just about, in every cup competition, things really don’t look that bad on the pitch, especially with the exciting talent that’s coming through the academy.
We could end the season with Champions League football and a trophy tucked away, maybe even a European one, and that would be a huge improvement.
I don’t know one United fan that doesn’t want Solskjaer to succeed and all things considered, he’s done well and I’m glad the board are right behind him.
The line will have to be drawn somewhere and at some point, he’ll always have to go, but the approach of giving him time is refreshing and us fans just need to be patient like the hierarchy.