Sunday 17th October 2021
Coach Solskjaer under pressure
United’s quick dive into Leicester
Manchester United has been waiting to win the English championship since 2013. Since then, only one Europa League success has been achieved. United goes down against Leicester. The pressure on coach Solskjaer is growing. A short flight also causes trouble. There is great unrest early in the season.
Something urgently needs to change at Manchester United – not only thinks France’s soccer world champion Paul Pogba. “We have to find the mentality and the tactics to win,” said the 28-year-old superstar after the 2-4 defeat at former champions Leicester City. Man United’s problems are now diverse. First, the journey by private jet to Leicester, 120 kilometers away, caused criticism, then it set the next sporting bankruptcy for the team around Cristiano Ronaldo. The pressure on coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is increasing. “We have to change something,” said Pogba.
The mood at the English record champions is simmering. Once again, the club is lagging behind in the Premier League. The signing of superstar Ronaldo should actually ensure the necessary euphoria around the Red Devils in order to finally become a serious title candidate again. With the second defeat and five points behind Thomas Tuchel and Chelsea, there are already considerable doubts after the eighth game day of the season. “Is Solskjaer still the right man?” Asked the BBC.
Atalanta and Liverpool are waiting
The Norwegian has to find answers in the coming weeks – and the tasks are quite tough. On Wednesday Atalanta Bergamo will make a guest appearance in Manchester in the Champions League. Next Sunday there will be a prestige duel with Jürgen Klopp and Liverpool FC. A loss to arch rivals could worsen the atmosphere around Old Trafford. “We have to shake it off somehow now,” said the 48-year-old United coach.
The problems in his team are not new. The former Champions League winner has already conceded ten goals. The defense in set pieces is poor. “We have had these problems for a long time. We just conceded stupid goals,” complained Pogba.
There was clear criticism of Manchester United even before kick-off. Since, according to United, the M6 motorway was temporarily closed, Ronaldo and Co. flew by private jet to East Midlands Airport and covered the approximately 120 kilometers by plane instead of the bus in around 15 minutes. That wasn’t exactly the best advertisement for the self-proclaimed climate-conscious club.
In the summer United had agreed a partnership with a group of companies from the renewable energies sector and, according to their own statement, wants to make people aware of a “cleaner and more sustainable future”. Here too, Manchester United has a lot of catching up to do.