I’m very sorry we lost: Onana apologises after loosing first trophy of the season to Manchester City
Manchester United were slated on social media for their first-half tactics that were on show against Manchester City in the Community Shield.
Erik ten Hag’s men went into the break with the scoreline 0-0 despite City hitting the post and looking the more dangerous side.
Both teams had starting players missing from the squad due to injuries and some were not fully fit following a busy summer packed with Euro 2024 and Copa America, however, that didn’t stop some fans from criticizing their team on social media.
Man Utd: Long Ball FC
Andre Onana’s distribution was the biggest talking point as he continuously lumped the ball forward to seemingly nobody.
In the first half, the Cameroonian goalkeeper tried seven long balls, completing just one to his teammates.
This led to fans online posting about his performance with one user asking why.
@AcademyScoop: “Why is Onana still hoofing it EVERY time?”
@UnitedStandMUFC said: “Another long ball by Onana straight to a city player.. THIS IS NOT WORKING…”
Onana recently addressed the written media in the latter stages of United’s preseason tour of the United States. His comments went viral as he said he needs to take ‘risks’.
“That’s me. And I think it’s what you’re gonna see this season because I will take a lot of risks. I can tell you in advance already! Be prepared because it’s gonna be this season, trust me! I will enjoy it even more when this season starts.”
He added: “Of course, because the best team in the world takes risks. Building from the back, recognise things, situations, when the opponent jumps one against one, or when they press with three or with four, recognise we dominate the pressing if it’s a No.9 or the 11.
“So for me it’s important to recognise those kind of things and make the best decision for the team. I will take a lot of responsibility and I think my back is huge to carry it all, no? I think it’s gonna be nice this season.”
Man United drew 1-1 with Man City but lost 7-6 on penalties in the Community Shield but there were plenty of positives from the contest.
Garnacho put United 1-0 up
Alejandro Garnacho was on the bench for Manchester United for the first time since October at Wembley. He will not be there against Fulham next week.
Coincidentally, the last occasion Garnacho was listed as a substitute by Erik ten Hag was against City. Garnacho demonstrated again how potent he can be against the champions 11 weeks on from the FA Cup final.
Garnacho, the opening scorer at Wembley, started as he ended last season. Despite the absence of an established striker, Ten Hag has a surfeit of options in attack and Garnacho can expect to be promoted back to the starting line-up against Fulham on Friday.
His second derby goal was about as far removed as his tap-in last term. Garnacho’s solo effort was all the more laudable as he received the ball on the right flank, purportedly his weaker position. He was playing there when he capitalised on City’s mix-up earlier this year.
Unlike in May, the game was not decided in the 90 minutes. United’s habit of sieving late goals continued as Bernardo Silva blindsided Facundo Pellistri to equalise in the 89th minute. Garnacho was required again for the penalty shootout and put the ball in the opposite corner.
The City banners billed themselves as “The best team in the land and all the world”. Their sweep of honours in 2023 was not completely clean as the Community Shield eluded them for a third year running. They have finally got their hands back on it in 2024.
United started with a weaker team than in the last derby at Wembley. Joshua Zirkzee, the only summer incoming in the squad, was an unused substitute though there will be more arrivals at Carrington soon in the former Ajax duo Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui.
Seven of the United starters were on the tour of the United States. Mason Mount and Marcus Rashford, dynamic across the pond, did not make a splash this side of the Atlantic.
Mount was accommodated as the No.10 with Bruno Fernandes as the false nine. Fernandes reminded Ten Hag he is the playmaker who makes United play, thrashing in a great goal-that-never-was as he strayed offside to gain the ball.
Rashford fluffed two clear openings. The second, from Garnacho’s prompt cross, was so glaring that Ruud van Nistelrooy strode out and onto the touchline to clap him encouragingly for several seconds.
This was an occasion incomparable with the end of last season, reflected by the vacant seats in the hospitality section either side of the dugout. Fernandes paused pressing Ederson when he noticed he was not backed up by a single teammate. There was not a booking until the 68th minute.
The United captain was as verbose as ever, offering Kobbie Mainoo tidbits. Mount touched base with Amad after a timid start. Amad was unable to conceal his irritation at teammates passing on diagonal passes to him.
When he finally received the ball, Amad deceived Josko Gvardiol and drew applause from Ten Hag. Moments later, he fashioned an even better chance through a slick one-two with Casemiro yet was selfless when he had to be selfish. Amad’s intended pass for Mount was awry and the crestfallen winger took several seconds to untangle himself from the side netting.
There would have been long odds on Casemiro lining up for the national anthem at the same stadium where he was dropped in May. The 32-year-old was an attacking asset in his first campaign with United and he is now a more effective attacking, rather than defensive, midfielder. He cutely created chances for Amad and Rashford.
Even as a 17-year-old without a career appearance, Harry Amass seemed as certain to start as anyone for United. Instead, he had to take his seat in the stands as the only travelling outfield player cut from the matchday squad. Amass was permitted to warm up with the listed substitutes to maximise his second matchday experience at the national stadium.
That was particularly illogical. United did not have a single defender on the bench and five have already succumbed to injury. Pellistri, loaned to Granada in January and surplus to requirements, only checked in at Carrington on Monday and was allocated a substitute’s seat.
Pellistri was still one of the first substitutes to emerge and slotted in at right back. The fish out of water floundered for Bernardo’s leveller.
There was a 251st academy debutant in the bustling Toby Collyer, introduced for the final half-an-hour. The 20-year-old was as industrious and eager as he was in the United States. United fans put their hands together for him after two proactive passes.
Jadon Sancho’s infamous training form should be observed closely at Carrington next week after his omission from the starting XI. That was confirmation, as if any more were needed, that Ten Hag does not want to be saddled with the remorseless winger beyond the transfer window.
New signing Zirkzee – an actual striker – still had to literally make way as Sancho walked past him when he was summoned in the 83rd minute. At the same end where he was denied by Gianluigi Donnarumma in the European Championship final in 2021, the former City winger was unsuccessful in another shootout.
City emerged to the familiar refrain of “You cheating b******s” from the United followers. Both sets of supporters were allocated the ends that they occupied for the FA Cup final, replete with anodyne club-approved banners.
United’s new chief executive Omar Berrada’s appearance on the large screens elicited boos from discerning City fans. There was a loud “Ruuuuuuud” from the United contingent as they were reunited with the revered Van Nistelrooy. His Culture Club ditty was aired loudly.
Van Nistelrooy was Ten Hag’s most prominent go-to consultant from the new brains trust while set-piece coach Andreas Georgson flanked the United manager in the technical area whenever the ball was dead. The contest was decided by dead-ball kicks, with City prevailing 7-6 in the shootout after Jonny Evans endangered spectators.
At least Garnacho was on target.
Leave a Reply