DEMBA-RRASSING
UNITED SUFFER HUMILIATING DEFEAT TO PILE THE PRESSURE ON SOLSKJAER, WHO SLAMS ‘UNFORGIVABLE’ MISTAKE
MANCHESTER United fell to a shock Champions League defeat in Turkey as Demba Ba punished brainless defending to pile further pressure on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
The visitors had been enjoying a European escape from their domestic problems, following up victory at Paris Saint-Germain in their Group H opener with a five-star display against RB Leipzig.
But they succumbed to defeat in Istanbul with former Premier League striker Ba, now 35, and skipper Edin Visca sealing a firstever Champions League groupstage victory for the Turks.
Anthony Martial reduced the deficit just before half-time but it was not enough and both the result and United’s overall display will heighten the already intense scrutiny on Solskjaer and his side.
Asked what went wrong, the
United boss said: ‘Performance wasn’t good enough against a team that worked, ran and hit us on the break a couple of times. The first goal is our short corner and we forget about the man up top, which is unforgivable. We weren’t very well organised for the second one.
‘These games have given us a reality check. You don’t just turn up in the Champions League and get three points.’
Looking ahead, Solskjaer added: ‘It’s not easy to be positive now when you’ve lost the way we did, but we have a chance on Saturday morning (at home to Everton in the Premier League) to get going again.’
The manner in which the Turkish champions defended contrasted markedly with the schoolboy efforts that saw United punished by Ba in the 13th minute.
Inexplicably poor awareness and organisation allowed the unmarshalled ex-Newcastle, Chelsea and West Ham striker to collect a long ball and run unchecked from halfway to beat Dean Henderson.
United’s backline was again caught out as Basaksehir captain Visca struck just before half-time, with Martial quickly heading home to give the visitors hope.
Yet despite introducing Edinson Cavani, Paul Pogba and Mason Greenwood after the break, United could not find a leveller on a night that ended with Alexandru Epureanu hacking off the line to seal a famous victory.