Manchester United’s struggles at Goodison Park did not come as a big surprise to anyone who has watched them this season but the manner of the defeat was totally unexpected. Despite being poor for large parts of the season, conceding 4 and failing to score was not part of anyone script for Ole Gunnar’s side. A few lessons were laid bare in Manchester United’s easily forgettable visit. Here are three of them..
Someone needs to have a word with David De Gea
Something just is not right with this Manchester Unite’s player of the season for last season. He did have his moments in the Russian World Cup where he failed to keep a clean-sheet in 4 matches that Spain played in and was to blame for Cristiano Ronaldo second in their 3-3 draw with Portugal. Against Barcelona in the second leg, De Gea failed at a routine catch allowing Lionel Messi to score a second and effectively end the quarter final as a contest.
At Everton, he repeated the same mistake for Everton’s third goal and it is clear he is not at his best. There is a World Class goalkeeper in him and someone needs to have a word with him to remind him exactly that!
Lazy Millionaires
Manchester United is one of the biggest football teams in the World and one of the biggest brands commercially in football. One would thus automatically believe that their players are some of the best paid in the game. To have them run 8 kilometers less than an average Everton side is as embarrassing as it is shocking! For all the talent in the squad, it will get them nowhere without putting in the yards, working their socks off for the benefit of the team.
They are paid millions of pounds but aren’t showing up for work, the lazy millionaires!
The manager is at fault too!
Surely, despite lacking in certain areas of the pitch, Manchester United have enough talent in the squad to do better that lose 6 of the last 8 matches they have played in. Ole Gunnar’s side may have started life on a high, winning his first 10 matches but the wheels have come off in last few months. There’s enough firepower in the team to score goals but when they fail to score from open play in 4 matches(360 minutes), questions have to asked of the guy leading that team!
Manchester United’s struggles were never going to end with Jose Mourinho’s sacking and a lot has to change before they can get back to the glory day of Sir Alex Ferguson.