Solskjaer has ‘no excuses’ for shock loss
LONDON: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said there were “no excuses” after Manchester United collapsed to a humiliating 2-0 defeat against Premier League bottom side Watford on Sunday following a David de Gea howler.
The chastening pre-Christmas loss comes after a six-match unbeaten spell that included morale-boosting wins against Tottenham and Manchester City and leaves United languishing in eighth place in the Premier League.
Not even the returning Paul Pogba could save his misfiring team, who again struggled to impose themselves against one of the league’s lesser lights.
The key moment came in the 50th minute when De Gea somehow allowed a tame effort from Ismaila Sarr to creep through his hands and in at the near post.
Watford doubled their lead four minutes later when Troy Deeney fired home from the penalty spot after the otherwise impressive Aaron Wan-Bissaka brought down Sarr with a misjudged sliding tackle.
“I’m very disappointed because we have to get more points against teams, like today,” said Solskjaer.
“I’m sure they were low in confidence because they must be when you’re bottom of the table.
“We were high in confidence because we’ve done well lately but it just wasn’t there. There was no intent or urgency to make us deserve to win the game.”
“There’s no excuses at all,” he added. “We prepared well and there’s nothing I can put my finger on.”
As for Spain international De Gea’s howler, Solskjaer said: “It was a mistake, it happens in football and it is what we train for every day to make sure they don’t happen again. David has been very good lately, it is just one of those things that happen. You have to earn every point on the pitch and today we didn’t deserve that.”