Manchester United have suffered another defeat as they were reduced to 10-men during their trip to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League
If Michael Carrick had been hoping for a reaction to Saturday evening’s torrid performance, he would have been left bitterly disappointed. It took less than 60 seconds for Manchester United’s problems to be laid bare once again.
The once-formidable Red Devils have been reduced to a side limping from fixture to fixture, and another comedy of errors gifted Atletico Madrid the opening goal. The clock had barely ticked past the first minute when Pablo Barrios was wheeling away in celebration.
United were at sixes and sevens, looking every bit a team devoid of confidence – and it already promised to be a very long night in Madrid.
JOIN US ON FB! Get all the best sports news and much more on our Facebook page
However, confidence is the least of United’s issues at the moment. They’re a team without any tactical direction – and it doesn’t look like it’s going to change anytime soon.
United, to be fair, did mange to carve out a handful of chances – and Carrick might have been pleased with the improvements he saw from the weekend.
However, the plan for Saturday’s Premier League clash with Spurs appeared to be the exact same as the one wheeled out for an away trip to the Metropolitano.
United’s biggest problem seems to be their ability to shoot themselves in the foot – they couldn’t finish chances and then Leny Yoro was dismissed with the game still in the balance.
Yoro was initially awarded the foul, but VAR intervened and ruled that he had pulled back Jonathan David. And with 10-men, United fell further behind when Ademola Lookman was first to a rebound.
The full-time whistle couldn’t come soon enough for the Red Devils. It was an improvement on the weekend’s showing, but then it would have been difficult to play much worse than they did on Saturday night.
Where do United go from here? They have a tough ask away at Elland Road at the weekend – who have waited decades to get one over on their bitter rivals.
Before another away trip to a hungry Como in the Champions League next week. Carrick might hang onto the small moments from Tuesday – but the reality is he needs a result, and he needs one fast.
And a quick look at their fixture list makes you wonder where that is going to come from.