Erik ten Hag’s army could not achieve any conditions to continue in the final round, when Copenhagen also won 1-0 against Galatasaray in the match at the same time.
These two results mean Man Utd finished bottom of the Champions League table for the first time since the 2005-2006 season. They were eliminated from the tournament, and there are only two arenas left this season: the Premier League and the FA Cup.Not only were they eliminated, Man Utd also suffered a big loss when midfielder Harry Maguire and defender Luke Shaw were injured and had to leave the field midway through the match. Maguire had groin pain without colliding with anyone, and Shaw showed signs of tearing his posterior thigh muscle. These two players are the current “Red Devils” pillars, while they prepare to be guests at Liverpool’s Anfield in the Premier League on Sunday, December 17.
Man Utd’s defeat was inevitable, as they only shot towards the goal once in the entire match. Home field advantage cannot help the “Red Devils” impose the reigning champion Germany. Even at the end of the match, the away team’s audience sang the words “Football is coming home” to mock Man Utd. Because this song is used by the British every time they have a chance to win a major tournament.
The difference between the two teams is also shown by the lackluster performance of striker Rasmus Hojlund. Hope in attack Man Utd only touched the ball nine times in the first half, the fewest on the field. The reason is that his fellow midfielders cannot bring the ball up to the 20-year-old striker. Creative players like Alejandro Garnacho, Bruno Fernandes, Scott McTominay and Antony only had a total of one chance for their teammates to score in the match.
The only significant point of the 19-year-old talent Garnacho was just… a push of Kingsley Coman near the goal line, causing the French player to fall hard and hit his back against the advertising billboard. Garnacho did not commit a foul, but was still warned by Norwegian referee Espen Eskas for his bad actions.
Coman himself then scored the only goal of the match, in the 71st minute, sinking the hosts’ small hopes. Center striker Harry Kane shined with a one-touch pass in a back-to-back position at the edge of the penalty area, allowing Coman to rush down to face him and then shoot diagonally to defeat goalkeeper Andre Onana.
Man Utd did not lose as heavily as expected, but the “Theater of Dreams” Old Trafford still did not dispel the gloomy atmosphere. For the first time in history, their team lost four matches in a Champions League group stage. After the final whistle, many spectators whistled and booed the host. Several red shirt players put their hands on their hands and bowed their heads, looking helpless.
Fans can console themselves that the “Red Devils” have less stress in the European arena, focusing as much on the Premier League as possible. But the trip to Anfield this weekend promises to be stormy for Man Utd, as they may be without Fernandes, Maguire and Shaw. Last season, Ten Hag’s team lost 0-7 here.