I’ll help Kovacic find a cutting edge: Lampard
OLE Gunnar Solskjaer was staying positive despite Manchester United’s youngest ever European side falling to defeat in faraway Kazakhstan.
Northern Ireland ace Ethan Galbraith made his United debut as part of the side who made the 6,000-mile round trip to face Astana, which is the furthest the club have ever travelled for a continental match, just as they have never had to contend with the kind of cold experienced around Nur-Sultan.
It was far warmer inside the Astana Arena due to the roof under which United’s young side started the Europa League tie brightly, with stand-in captain Jesse Lingard opening the scoring with a fizzing low finish.
But already eliminated and previously pointless Astana grew into the Group L encounter, with Dmitri Shomko’s strike and an own goal from United debutant Di’Shon Bernard sealing a surprise 2-1 win for the hosts.
“Definitely
(there are positives),” manager Solskjaer (right) said.
“Of course we’re disappointed with the end result but I thought we started the game fantastically, the boys took control of the game, scored a fantastic goal.
“The response after they scored two was also good. Of course we’re disappointed with that 10-minute spell, you could feel the pressure was coming. We couldn’t get on the ball as we did.
“But some fantastic performances by the three young lads who made their debuts, all were excellent.
“I think some of these (young players I brought to Kazakhstan) might benefit from going out on loan because they need men’s football, and today they got the taste of it, some of them.
“But some are also knocking on the door for us. You could see the way we dominated midfield. I thought Dylan (Levitt) and Jimmy (James Garner) playing together, it’s nice to see midfielders dominating the game.
“Di’Shon was so composed. Ethan (Laird), especially first half, was marauding down the righthand side, so some of these have done themselves a good favour.”
Debutants Levitt, Laird and Bernard were part of an outfield line-up with an average age of just 20 years and 221 days.
Even with 36-year-old goalkeeper Lee Grant making his first start, the overall average was 22 years and 26 days — the youngest side United have fielded in a major European competition.
D’Mani Bughail-Mellor, Largie Ramazani and Galbraith made their first appearances as second-half substitutes, while Solskjaer wants Bernard to remember the positives after his own goal.
“He was disappointed, of course,” he said. “He’ ll remember that from his debut, but I want him to remember the other 92 minutes, or every other touch he had, because he defended well.
“He had some last-ditch clearances. I thought he did excellently and he’s so composed on the ball as well.
“Sometimes strikers miss chances and sometimes defenders score an own goal. That’s partly down to luck and bad luck. I thought he did really well. That’s what I want him to remember this game for.”
Solskjaer does not want Tahith Chong to beat himself up either, having wasted a glorious chance to make it 2-0 moments before Astana levelled.
Asked if he had spoken to the winger, the Norwegian said: “Yeah, of course, but he said the same in the dressing room. He stands up and says it is a different game if he scores and he takes the responsibility.
“But no forward or striker should ever worry about missing chances. That’s just part of growing up. I think I did once as well.”
While Solskjaer told Bernard and Chong to keep their chin up, he believes Lingard should be proud of his display after a difficult few months.
“I thought he was excellent today,” he added. “Jesse led by example. Loads of energy, drive, a very good goal. He’s been very good on the whole trip with the young boys because he is 27.
“Jesse is an old, experienced boy and very pleased with his performance as well on the pitch. It’s good to get Jesse back.”
Meanwhile, Astana were delighted to get their first points on the board against such a huge side. Defender Antonio Rukavina said: “It is always tough to play against a big team like Manchester United.
“But we played one fighting game and won our first three points this year in the Europa League. It’s nice to be part of such a big win.”
Off the mark: Mateo Kovacic scored for Chelsea in Spain
FRANK Lampard admits one of his “projects” at Chelsea is to get Mateo Kovacic among the goals.
Croatia midfielder Kovacic broke his Chelsea duck on his 71st club appearance in Wednesday’s 2-2 Champions League draw in Valencia.
The 25-year-old drilled home as the Blues left the Mestalla Stadium with a point despite the hosts squandering plenty of chances, including a missed penalty.
Kovacic could even have had a brace in Spain, only for Jasper Cillessen to deny the in-form Blues creator another goal, as Lampard revealed his plans for the former Real Madrid man.
“We’ve had a lot of jokes between me and him because he’s a player of such quality that should score more goals,” said Lampard.
“It’s a project for me, for him and for the whole staff to get him more goals. I’m delighted for him and I hope that’s the start of something new.”
Tammy Abraham picked up a hip complaint after a heavy fall, but Chelsea hope the England striker has avoided serious injury and only suffered bruising.
Christian Pulisic thought he had swiped a win that would have guaranteed Chelsea safe passage into the last 16 with a match to spare in Group H.
The USA forward tapped home, with the goal standing after a lengthy VAR review and cancelling out Carlos Soler’s opener.
Daniel Wass fluked a leveller for the hosts when his cross drifted over Kepa Arrizabalaga’s head, but that was after Chelsea’s stopper had pulled off a fine penalty save to deny Dani Parejo from the spot.
The lengthy delay before VAR confirmed Pulisic’s goal left home players and fans incensed, but Lampard insisted enduring a wait is no problem — provided the officials come to the right conclusion.
“I don’t think the delay is the problem,” said Lampard.
“The problem in the Premier League has been whether the decision was right or wrong even after the delay, and that’s where I think we’re not getting it right.
“We want to keep that time down, but if you get the right decision I don’t think there are too many complaints.”