Bayern Munich 4-3 Manchester United
United lose to Bayern on the first matchday in the Champions League
Another fixture and another loss for Manchester United as we concede 4 away at the Allianz Arena. Just like at the weekend, United were playing relatively well for around 25 minutes and should have been in the lead after 5 minutes when Pellistri failed to convert Eriksen’s cross and Eriksen himself didn’t score the rebound. United then went 1-0 down due to an unfortunate Onana mistake which resembled multiple mistakes David De Gea made last season.
4 minutes later Jamal Musiala, who was absolutely untouchable, meanders his way through our midfield and sets up Serge Gnabry for Bayern’s second.
After half-time, United came out the better side and Rasmus Hojlund scored his first goal for the club, a slightly deflected effort finding its way past Ulreich and United seemed to be back in the game.
But a common theme emerging with this team occurred again as we switched off after scoring and conceded to a Harry Kane penalty. Another very controversial VAR decision might I add.
United made it 3-2 in the 88th minute through some excellent play from Anthony Martial and Casemiro but again United conceded shortly after. Casemiro got his brace with seconds left in the game and it ended 4-3.
Non-existent midfield
United’s pivot of Casemiro and Eriksen left much to be desired defensively last night. The majority of goals United have conceded this season have been due to the midfield’s poor defensive awareness and it was the case again against Bayern.
In the image above, we can see Bayern's second goal from last night, featuring Serge Gnabry enjoying an alarming amount of space within our 18-yard box—a situation our midfield pivot should ideally prevent. This vulnerability arises from Casemiro and Eriksen venturing too high when pressing, leaving them exposed when they need to track back towards our goal.
Furthermore, this tactical choice leaves our midfield vulnerable during transition phases. Both Casemiro and Eriksen, regrettably, show signs of declining physical capabilities, making them less effective when tasked with defending larger areas. Additionally, their spatial awareness and ability to track opposition runners appear suboptimal, affording opposing players excessive room to infiltrate our penalty area and take shots, ultimately leading to conceded goals. Astonishingly, Bayern managed 14 shots within our penalty area, a figure that is simply unacceptable for a club of United's calibre and a glaring reason behind our goal-conceding woes.
To address these issues, a more agile midfield pairing comprising Mason Mount and Sofyan Amrabat could potentially provide some relief. Nevertheless, Ten Hag must take proactive measures to rectify this situation.
Team mentality
United initiated the game on a strong note, employing an effective 4-1-4-1 pressing formation that disrupted Bayern's ball circulation. However, following Andre Onana's unfortunate mistake, a noticeable shift occurred, with United adopting a more passive stance. The pressing intensity waned, and vulnerabilities in the midfield became evident.
Peculiarly, it appeared as though United's players experienced a drop in morale in response to adversity—an inexplicable occurrence. It's imperative that this mindset shifts because football is a 90-minute affair, demanding constant vigilance and focus throughout.
Rasmus Hojlund
It seems like I'll be mentioning his name in every post-match analysis because he continues to astound me every time he takes the field. With two starts under his belt, he's notched one goal and one disallowed goal—a promising start to his journey at Manchester United.
Even in the midst of a lack of creativity around him, it already feels like he's a guaranteed scorer whenever he plays. In recent games, he has undeniably been the brightest spot for United, sparking excitement about his potential when our strongest XI is on the pitch.
It won't be long before we witness him bagging 10+ goals, and that's an exciting prospect to look forward to.
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GGMU
Hopefully you guys win next time.