United can't find the middle ground between lime and sand and let Mr. Hyde show up too often. The joy and merriment after the 5-0 at Leipzig in the Champions League gave way to long faces and shoulders at the height of the green at the end of Arsenal's visit this Sunday. Pogba would commit a penalty that Aubameyang would be in charge of transforming and leave the Red Devils with the same points in the League as in the Champions League. With one exception, in Europe this means a plenary session and the leadership of the group and in the Premier they have already played six games and are in fifteenth. In domestic competition, that was not the route plan drawn up by the new and exciting United that germinated last year and returned the “Die Meister, Die Besten, Les Grandes Equipes, The Champions” to Old Trafford.
All the praise during the week turns into attacks on the weekend and Roy Keane, team legend and now commentator for Sky Sports he could not contain himself when he saw the wandering that the team that he himself led long ago is wearing. “Before the game we talked about taking a step forward, being aggressive … You are the home team. And there was none of that. Also, there was a lack of energy, enthusiasm, a real lack of quality and that worried me in the second half when they achieved moderately decent positions to go for the game, but there was no quality. Without composure “, lamented the ex-midfielder.
Also, Keane's biggest concern was the lack of what he stood for, leadership. “I don't see any leaders out there, in the whole team. From the most experienced. You are expected to roll up your sleeves, that's what a Manchester United player does. Like Nobby Stiles (former United player and world champion with England in 1966 who died this week at age 78), heart of a lion. Ole is the coach, you have to trust your players because your job depends on it. Are you going to trust those players? God help us“, asserted the now commentator.
Paul Pogba and Marcus Rashford in a moment of United's loss to Arsenal (0-1).
PAUL ELLIS (Pool via REUTERS)
One of the players who received the most criticism for his part was Marcus Rashford, hero against Leipzig and disappeared before Arteta's men: “I took a close look at Rashford, who has received a lot of applause in recent months and is still young (he is 22 years old), but his body language was shocking, truly disturbing. He would drop his shoulders when things were not going well. You roll up your sleeves. at Manchester United. When things don't go well, that's when you look at a leader and his character. “
“His dismissal will come, as the day follows the night”
Old Trafford long ago lost the special aura that earned it the nickname of the Theater of Dreams, but in the present Premier it has become a fort, but for the visiting team. Four parties: three defeats, one draw, two goals for and ten against. That is the baggage that the Mancunian group accumulates in the heat of the home. First it was Crystal Palace (1-3), then Tottenham (1-6), Chelsea was a small oasis (0-0) and Arsenal were the last to steal the loot on their visit to Manchester. The fans, or the absence of them, cannot serve as an excuse. A hobby that, if present, was sure to bring the sound of the wind to the local meetings of their idols.
Europe serves as a balm, Leipzig succumbed to the roller, just as PSG did in the Parc des Princes (1-2) previously. However, the stability of Doctor Jekyll cannot make an appearance only when the Champions League arrives or if the rope is dangerously close to the neck. Solskjaer's shoulders take more pressure every day. Keane himself is clear: “His dismissal will come with these players as day follows night”. The Norwegian has a job if he doesn't want his ex-partner's prediction to come true. The river has sounded several times. So far, he has not carried enough water to carry the coach with the flow, but Ole must find the key of consistency if he does not want his time as coach of the team to come to an end prematurely.