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MANCHESTER UNITED HAVE HAD A BAD COUPLE OF WEEKS BUT ONE THAT FEELS THE SEASON HAS GONE BIT IN SOME ASPECTS, SOME MIXED RESULTS AND NOW OUT OF EUROPE, UNITED HAVE A LOT TO DO TO GET BACK ONFORM.
Round 17 United fought back a draw at home to Crystal Palace with an old face back in the Palace dugout. Rob Brunton couldn't believe his luck with an early red card for Lisandro Martinez meaning United played 80 minutes or more with 10 men. Palace capitalized With Ebe Eze opening the scoring with a neat finish, on 26 minutes, the Palace man made easy work of it really and Palace deservedly lead. It was 2-0 when Mario Pasalac and Adama Traore combined down the right, the Croatian then raced into the box to get on the end of Adamas cross to score a bullet header to send the away end into raptures. United almost out the game you'd think, but the fight back started through Gavi who displayed some individual brilliance beating Anton and finding the net with a brilliant effort. United drew level in the second half, Pedro Porro ventured forward and found himself on the end of Luis Diaz's cut back to level the tie. Post match Steve Outten was pleased with the result but questioned the officiating. "We was up against it today, every foul in the first 10 minutes the officials had their cards out and when Licha got sent off, well, it was bound to happen. Palace used their man extra and to be honest it's showed our true colours today, fighting back against it is very pleasing. But the context is we've lost 2 points, and when we make 9 fould and get a man sent off and they make 13 and get a few yellows, what can you say. But the lads did well, and we have to show similar fight going forward.
United travelled to Bavaria in a must win Champions League game but put in a lacklustre performance to Bayern, in a loser leaves the completion game. In a very one sided game Bayern got their rewards in a 2-1 win. Nico Paz was unmarked for an easy finish after Adam Wharton pulled a cross back to the Argentine to make it 1-0. United found a leveller with the last action of the first half, Gabriel Moscardo with am improvised effort found it's way in, the away fans up for it and you expected a new sense of energy in the second half. But it never came and when Xavi Simmons long clearance found its way to Benkamin Seskso, the forward lifted the ball past Jan Oblak to settled the game. United never got going and Outten said very little post match "We're out. It's a disgrace of a performance from the players. They should be embarrassed. Bayern should've dominated us more on the score as they needed a win like us, and they fought like it so well done to them. I've not spoken to the lads, they're sitting in silence thinking about what they haven't done today."
Round 18 United wanted a reaction and they got that with a comprehensive 3-0 win at home to Newcastle. Karim Adeyemi bagged a brace and Connor Smith got another cameo goal in a one sided game. The ball fell to Adeyemi early for the first, the German raced through and coolly finished to settle the crowd, but just 6 minutes later the German doubled his tally and Uniteds, a deep corner fell to De Ligt and the back post, he kept his head and slid the ball to Adeyemi who found the bottom corner. United battled hard and deserved another goal but the major issue in the first half saw Pedro Porro go off with an injury, meaning Alex got a longer run out than thought. United used the squad in the second half and Connor Smith got another cameo goal, capitalising on Jonathon Claus' sloppy back pass and slotting in his 3rd United goal. It wasn't the match on Steve Outtens mind after this one. "We're getting a lot of daft injuries right now and the suspensions are kicking in, it's all coming at once again, sure we handled it today but what do we do now? We've got 2 players missing for Monday against Chelsea, and maybe a 3rd, we'll assess Pedro quickly, it doesn't look to bad but if we're wrong that's 3 key men out for a huge game. Look, they happen, but right now, we're patching squads together and something needs looking at for sure. But today, yes 3 big points."
Round 19 United travelled to Stamford bridge in a top 2 clash. United had a goal ruled out in a first half which United started the better, Nacho's corner was rifled home by Luis Diaz, but the officials spotted an offside, it's still not clear who was supposedly causing the infringement but the game stayed 0-0. Ben Chillwell did break the deadlock right before half time, after Lacroix picked out a long range pass which Chillwell stabbed past Oblak. United continued to probe the Chelsea goal but Renato Sanches produced a sinical foul on Nacho to receive a second yellow card on his debut. United instantly capitalized and Gavi picked a great pass for Adeyemi to strike in the leveller. The score stayed 1-1 and post match Outten was very pleased with the result "We came into this one with 2 key players missing, and the lads that came in gave stellar performances. We again was us against it, I still can't see an offside [for Diaz's goal ruled out], and despite countless fouls again, the ref clearly didn't want to send Sanches off but finally did. We got what we deserved, well not quite, but had we lost this one it'd have been a travesty."
United had to play a token game in Europe against Real Madrid next, a game which cost the club in more ways than you'd want. United victors in a 4-2 result which in the end cost them 3 players for Fridays game against City. The first goal was scored by Raheem Sterling, gambling into the box to convert Gavis corner, Jadon Slory bundled past the defence and slotted in a second on 33 minutes, the dutchman getting his 3rd goal of the season. 3 yellow cards got shown before Florian Wirtz pulled one back for Real in the first half, but Ricardo Calafiori responded and restored the 2 goal lead after getting on the end of Yasser Asprillas cross. United went down to 10 men when Lisandro Martinez picked up a second yellow card for a foul on Diogo Dalot, you'd think Madrid would capitalize but surprisingly United made it 4 before half time, after Donnarumma brought down Sterling for a penalty, the Englishman stepped up himself and converted with ease. Nicolo Rovella scored a second Madrid goal, assisted by Stanisla Lobotka the Italian improvised with a clever overhead kick to keep Madrid alive in the tie. The game turned again when Rodrygo went down near Yasser Asprilla and the Colombian received a second yellow card. Replays did show the Brazillian dived and again United hard done by. Wirtz saw red for real after shirt puling, a harsh second yellow given, but maybe a leveller after the wrong call on Asprilla? Who knows. Post match an angry Steve Outten spoke "The lads did well, we controlled Madrid and we had to look at minutes as some players need to catch up on their contractual obligations, it was the game to do it. But where was this performance last week? We dominated Madrid, and then the ref made the game about him. 2 red cards and a needless yellow, means we've got 3 men now missing for the derby. How much can go against one team in such a period? This is becoming a joke now, it's clear we're on egg shells now for the rest of the season. I can't say much more, or I'll get in trouble, but it's a day where we only have questions on the players, and on the officials."
Round 20 United went into the derby depleted and a solitary own goal from Gavi settled the tie. A skewed clearance beating his own 'keeper, it'll be one for the blooper reals in the future. The game was otherwise quiet and now United make it 3 straight derby defeats and no goals in the last two. Outten looked dejected at full time, "Given we had 3 players out, the lads that came in gave it a good go against a top quality team and we can't ask for more. Simply, lucks been right against us recently and to lose with an own goal sums up how things are right now. BUt what can we do, we have to react against Leeds and thankfully we have another body coming in to help the second half of the season but right now we're up against it, and time to show our true resolve."
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Round 17 United fought back a draw at home to Crystal Palace with an old face back in the Palace dugout. Rob Brunton couldn't believe his luck with an early red card for Lisandro Martinez meaning United played 80 minutes or more with 10 men. Palace capitalized With Ebe Eze opening the scoring with a neat finish, on 26 minutes, the Palace man made easy work of it really and Palace deservedly lead. It was 2-0 when Mario Pasalac and Adama Traore combined down the right, the Croatian then raced into the box to get on the end of Adamas cross to score a bullet header to send the away end into raptures. United almost out the game you'd think, but the fight back started through Gavi who displayed some individual brilliance beating Anton and finding the net with a brilliant effort. United drew level in the second half, Pedro Porro ventured forward and found himself on the end of Luis Diaz's cut back to level the tie. Post match Steve Outten was pleased with the result but questioned the officiating. "We was up against it today, every foul in the first 10 minutes the officials had their cards out and when Licha got sent off, well, it was bound to happen. Palace used their man extra and to be honest it's showed our true colours today, fighting back against it is very pleasing. But the context is we've lost 2 points, and when we make 9 fould and get a man sent off and they make 13 and get a few yellows, what can you say. But the lads did well, and we have to show similar fight going forward.
United travelled to Bavaria in a must win Champions League game but put in a lacklustre performance to Bayern, in a loser leaves the completion game. In a very one sided game Bayern got their rewards in a 2-1 win. Nico Paz was unmarked for an easy finish after Adam Wharton pulled a cross back to the Argentine to make it 1-0. United found a leveller with the last action of the first half, Gabriel Moscardo with am improvised effort found it's way in, the away fans up for it and you expected a new sense of energy in the second half. But it never came and when Xavi Simmons long clearance found its way to Benkamin Seskso, the forward lifted the ball past Jan Oblak to settled the game. United never got going and Outten said very little post match "We're out. It's a disgrace of a performance from the players. They should be embarrassed. Bayern should've dominated us more on the score as they needed a win like us, and they fought like it so well done to them. I've not spoken to the lads, they're sitting in silence thinking about what they haven't done today."
Round 18 United wanted a reaction and they got that with a comprehensive 3-0 win at home to Newcastle. Karim Adeyemi bagged a brace and Connor Smith got another cameo goal in a one sided game. The ball fell to Adeyemi early for the first, the German raced through and coolly finished to settle the crowd, but just 6 minutes later the German doubled his tally and Uniteds, a deep corner fell to De Ligt and the back post, he kept his head and slid the ball to Adeyemi who found the bottom corner. United battled hard and deserved another goal but the major issue in the first half saw Pedro Porro go off with an injury, meaning Alex got a longer run out than thought. United used the squad in the second half and Connor Smith got another cameo goal, capitalising on Jonathon Claus' sloppy back pass and slotting in his 3rd United goal. It wasn't the match on Steve Outtens mind after this one. "We're getting a lot of daft injuries right now and the suspensions are kicking in, it's all coming at once again, sure we handled it today but what do we do now? We've got 2 players missing for Monday against Chelsea, and maybe a 3rd, we'll assess Pedro quickly, it doesn't look to bad but if we're wrong that's 3 key men out for a huge game. Look, they happen, but right now, we're patching squads together and something needs looking at for sure. But today, yes 3 big points."
Round 19 United travelled to Stamford bridge in a top 2 clash. United had a goal ruled out in a first half which United started the better, Nacho's corner was rifled home by Luis Diaz, but the officials spotted an offside, it's still not clear who was supposedly causing the infringement but the game stayed 0-0. Ben Chillwell did break the deadlock right before half time, after Lacroix picked out a long range pass which Chillwell stabbed past Oblak. United continued to probe the Chelsea goal but Renato Sanches produced a sinical foul on Nacho to receive a second yellow card on his debut. United instantly capitalized and Gavi picked a great pass for Adeyemi to strike in the leveller. The score stayed 1-1 and post match Outten was very pleased with the result "We came into this one with 2 key players missing, and the lads that came in gave stellar performances. We again was us against it, I still can't see an offside [for Diaz's goal ruled out], and despite countless fouls again, the ref clearly didn't want to send Sanches off but finally did. We got what we deserved, well not quite, but had we lost this one it'd have been a travesty."
United had to play a token game in Europe against Real Madrid next, a game which cost the club in more ways than you'd want. United victors in a 4-2 result which in the end cost them 3 players for Fridays game against City. The first goal was scored by Raheem Sterling, gambling into the box to convert Gavis corner, Jadon Slory bundled past the defence and slotted in a second on 33 minutes, the dutchman getting his 3rd goal of the season. 3 yellow cards got shown before Florian Wirtz pulled one back for Real in the first half, but Ricardo Calafiori responded and restored the 2 goal lead after getting on the end of Yasser Asprillas cross. United went down to 10 men when Lisandro Martinez picked up a second yellow card for a foul on Diogo Dalot, you'd think Madrid would capitalize but surprisingly United made it 4 before half time, after Donnarumma brought down Sterling for a penalty, the Englishman stepped up himself and converted with ease. Nicolo Rovella scored a second Madrid goal, assisted by Stanisla Lobotka the Italian improvised with a clever overhead kick to keep Madrid alive in the tie. The game turned again when Rodrygo went down near Yasser Asprilla and the Colombian received a second yellow card. Replays did show the Brazillian dived and again United hard done by. Wirtz saw red for real after shirt puling, a harsh second yellow given, but maybe a leveller after the wrong call on Asprilla? Who knows. Post match an angry Steve Outten spoke "The lads did well, we controlled Madrid and we had to look at minutes as some players need to catch up on their contractual obligations, it was the game to do it. But where was this performance last week? We dominated Madrid, and then the ref made the game about him. 2 red cards and a needless yellow, means we've got 3 men now missing for the derby. How much can go against one team in such a period? This is becoming a joke now, it's clear we're on egg shells now for the rest of the season. I can't say much more, or I'll get in trouble, but it's a day where we only have questions on the players, and on the officials."
Round 20 United went into the derby depleted and a solitary own goal from Gavi settled the tie. A skewed clearance beating his own 'keeper, it'll be one for the blooper reals in the future. The game was otherwise quiet and now United make it 3 straight derby defeats and no goals in the last two. Outten looked dejected at full time, "Given we had 3 players out, the lads that came in gave it a good go against a top quality team and we can't ask for more. Simply, lucks been right against us recently and to lose with an own goal sums up how things are right now. BUt what can we do, we have to react against Leeds and thankfully we have another body coming in to help the second half of the season but right now we're up against it, and time to show our true resolve."
1515 words