Manchester United’s 2-0 defeat to a very average Olympiacos side has all but ended any hope that manager David Moyes has of winning the Champions League this season.
In Greece on Tuesday United were pitiful. No energy, enthusiasm or tempo combined in the worst United performance I can ever remember. And I can remember 1974 when United were relegated!
So what did the Manchester United boss say about the Greek tragedy?
“That’s the worst we have played in Europe,” the United manager said.
“It was a really poor performance. We never really got going from the start and we didn’t deserve anything because of the way we played.
“We never really got to grips with things and to a man you could hardly pick anybody out. We just didn’t perform.
“We came into the game in good form and a good mindset but it just didn’t show. I am just surprised. I didn’t see that level of performance coming. I just didn’t see it.”
It was an all around flat performance by United, as players all over the pitch seemed to sleepwalk through the game. Chris Smalling and Rio Ferdinand in the defense were really poor, Tom Cleverley and Michael Carrick failed to take any hold of the game in midfield and Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney were invisible. You know its a poor performance when Ashley Young is the best United player!
It was United’s manager who took the blame for the manner of the defeat though saying:
“I take responsibility;”
“It is my time and I will always front it up. We didn’t play well. We have to play better.”
United will have to win by three clear goals in the second leg on March 19 to make it through to the quarter-finals, but Moyes has not given up hope just yet.
“The one good thing is that there is still a second game to come,” the Scot said.
“We will do everything we can possibly do to reverse the 2-0 defeat.”
While I expected a transitional period this season from Fergie to Moyes I did not expect that in late February that United’s performances are getting worse not better.
There were five big job openings last summer; Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, PSG, Chelsea and Manchester United. It has to mean something when four of those teams are leading their respective leagues and one is in sixth place.
I like David Moyes but it is becoming harder and harder to defend him and his decisions.
