Manchester United gamers, together with Jonny Evans and Bruno Fernandes, look dejected after Bayern Munich’s Kingsley Coman scored in opposition to them within the UEFA Champions League group stage match at Old Trafford, Manchester, on December 12, 2023
| Photo Credit: Action Images by way of Reuters
Jeers rang round Old Trafford on Tuesday as Manchester United suffered an embarrassingly early exit from the Champions League after a 1-0 loss to Bayern Munich.
Kingsley Coman’s Seventieth-minute purpose ended the three-time European Cup winners’ slim probabilities of advancing to the knockout stage and delivered a contemporary blow in an ever-worsening season for Erik ten Hag.
The twelfth defeat in all competitions this season meant United couldn’t even safe the security internet of a spot within the Europa League after ending backside of Group A.
“The facts are we do not have enough points, we are disappointed as a group, as a manager, I am disappointed. We should have done better,” Ten Hag stated.
Copenhagen superior to the spherical of 16 behind group winner Bayern after beating Galatasaray 1-0. That consequence meant even a United win wouldn’t have seen it advance to the subsequent stage.
Injury to Harry Maguire solely added to Ten Hag’s issues forward of Sunday’s Premier League recreation at chief Liverpool, with the stress mounting on the Dutchman.
United by no means appeared like getting the win it wanted after registering only one shot on the right track — a long-range effort from Luke Shaw — in your entire match. And followers made their emotions generally known as the ultimate whistle blew on one other disappointing evening for Ten Hag’s workforce, whereas Bayern supporters revelled in taunting their rivals.
“Sometimes you feel pretty lonely as a coach,” Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel stated.
It was solely the second time that United has completed backside of its Champions League group and the third event it has didn’t advance to the knockout stage in seven makes an attempt since former supervisor Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.
A file of 15 objectives conceded within the group stage is essentially the most by any Premier League workforce within the competitors’s historical past, in accordance with Opta stats.
The odds had at all times been stacked in opposition to United after managing only one win within the group going into its ultimate recreation.
Ten Hag’s workforce needed to finish Bayern’s event file 39-game unbeaten run within the group levels and nonetheless hope for a draw between Copenhagen and Galatasaray to take the runner-up spot.
But United barely troubled a Bayern workforce that had already been assured of prime spot within the group and a spot within the knockout stage for the sixteenth straight season.
“We had our moments but just didn’t take them,” Ten Hag stated.
United’s prospects weren’t helped when, shortly earlier than halftime, Maguire was substituted due to an obvious groin damage. Jonny Evans changed the England worldwide.
Another defender, Shaw, was then substituted on the break, with Aaron Wan-Bissaka approaching in his place.
Bayern had created the higher possibilities within the first half, with Leroy Sane the guests’ greatest menace. But he bought method all incorrect with an tried side-foot volley from shut vary that didn’t hit the goal.
United’s finest alternative got here by way of Shaw’s shot that was punched over by Manuel Neuer.
Bayern broke the impasse with a purpose of actual high quality.
Coman had harried United’s defenders as the house workforce struggled to play out from the again. When the ball broke unfastened, substitute Thomas Muller flicked it to Kane, who performed an incisive go into the run of Coman.
With solely Andre Onana to beat, the ahead powered a shot into the underside nook to seal one other painful defeat for Ten Hag.
As Tuchel appears forward to the spherical of 16 and the potential of difficult for the title when the competitors resumes subsequent yr, he spared a thought for his reverse quantity.
“Almost always I feel sympathy for the other coach but, of course, within the competition we try everything to win matches,” he stated. “These are the rules of high level sports and of sports in general.”
Source: www.thehindu.com
