Astana’s rapid double teaches young Manchester United a harsh lesson
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was upbeat despite the youngest European side in Manchester United’s history falling to defeat in Kazakhstan. The 6,000-mile round trip to face Astana is the farthest the club have 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 their stand-in captain Jesse Lingard opening the scoring with a fizzing low finish.
But Astana, already eliminated and previously pointless, 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.
“Definitely there are positives,” Solskjaer 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 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 right-hand 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 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 Ethan 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 excellent 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.”
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 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 said. “Jesse led by example. Loads of energy, drive, very good goal. He’s been very good in 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.”