The last thing Solskjaer needs this week is an individual error costing United. That was a tame shot from Ilicic and any goalkeeper worth his salt should be saving it. United had actually started reasonably well and they’ve not conceded a real chance of note so far. Atalanta can cut the best teams in Europe open, so it was always going to be a test defensively. To gift them an opener is a seismic blow.
The curva nord is some sight and their choreography is everything you would expect from fanatical Italian fans. Goodness knows what the din would have been like had Atalanta’s goal been chalked off.
United have not been that bad at all but the goal has enabled Atalanta to have more of the ball and that early period of dominance United enjoyed feels a tad distant now. Kieran McKenna has gone into the technical area to try and address matters while Solskjaer temporarily takes a seat. United do look likely when they go forward and it is difficult to see them not scoring, despite the current scoreline.
There’s not the level of control in this performance that there was at Tottenham. It’s certainly better than it has been in a 4-2-3-1 but it’s been scrappy at times for United and a big reason for their lack of control is Paul Pogba, who is having a very difficult time of it so far. He’s been very sloppy in possession.
One day, a coach will make it a fineable offence for Pogba to take as many touches of the ball as he too often does. It’s unexplainable and why he struggles for consistency in a microcosm. He needs to perform tonight and he isn’t. And just then he turns attack into defence.
Cristiano Ronaldo Goal with Titanic music hits different. Simply the ?pic.twitter.com/PVucvHpKfz
— Sheikh Hammad (@RonaldoW7_) November 3, 2021