Solskjaer surrenders! Gloomy eye nullifies Manchester United’s title hopes, as his team lost crucial points against Everton after discount drama at Old Trafford
- Manchester United title hopes suffered a blow after the dramatic draw with Everton
- Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team was on their way to draw on points with City
- But Dominic Calvert-Lewin was stuck in a waiting time for part of the spoils
- Solskjaer effectively discarded United’s title credentials after the tie ended
Harry Maguire checked with referee Jon Moss for confirmation that Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s last-second draw would continue, and in fact there was no more time on the clock, before a swear word roared in the cold night air. Manchester United kicked off again and Moss blew the final whistle.
Maguire’s sentiment will be shared by all United members. This was a painful draw that looked like a defeat.
But was it a fatal blow to United’s hopes of winning the Premier League? Not yet. Curtains for a club that fought so many title battles to the end? Difficultly.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer ruled out Manchester United’s title chances after a draw with Everton
So it was strange to hear Ole Gunnar Solskjaer effectively dismiss his team’s chances soon after.
The United coach has been trying to manage expectations around Old Trafford for the past few weeks and that may be understandable. But that was totally more pessimistic.
“We are not talking about winning titles,” said Solskjaer. “We have come a long way in this team and we should not be considered candidates for the title.”
Why not? Manchester City is clearly the favorite, but United is their closest opponent in the strangest of seasons that has opened up so many possibilities.
Harry Maguire kept appealing in vain after Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s dramatic late draw
It is only February and no one wins the title now, as Solskjaer said. If United had held on for a few more seconds, they would have reached the top together with City, having played two more games.
The coach has been in charge for more than two years and has appointed a team for the day of the game against Everton that cost almost £ 600 million. If United is not yet a title contender, perhaps it should be.
They are clearly progressing under Solskjaer and if there is still any hope of fighting for the title a little earlier than he expected, why not try? There is no guarantee that City will be weaker next season and Liverpool certainly will not.
United were on their way to draw with City before Calvert-Lewin saw them lose two points
Roy Keane has already suggested that his former club is “afraid” to set up a title dispute, and Sportsmail analyst Jamie Redknapp also thinks United should be more convinced.
“You won’t have a better chance,” said Redknapp. ‘This United team should believe it. This is the year when anything is possible. They’re not children, are they? They are full of experience. He should be saying to this team: believe me you can do this. City are by far the best team, but they may still have a problem. ‘
United has an attack like any other in the Premier League and was excellent on the 63rd anniversary of the Munich air disaster.
United has an attack like any other in the league and was good at attacking Everton
Marcus Rashford made an excellent cross for Edinson Cavani to open the scoring and Bruno Fernandes made an even better shot to 2-0.
But they were terrible at defense and Abdoulaye Doucoure and James Rodriguez scored twice within four minutes of the break. Scott McTominay headed United ahead, but Calvert-Lewin equalized after 95 minutes.
The result came from a free-kick suffered by United substitute Axel Tuanzebe, who revealed he was the target of racist abuse for the second time in recent weeks.
The spotlight is back on David de Gea after he was criticized for his role in two Everton goals
David de Gea was criticized for making a weak attempt to block Calvert-Lewin, after pushing the ball straight into Doucoure for Everton’s first goal.
Dean Henderson is likely to be the FA Cup tie on Tuesday night against West Ham and, not for the first time, Solskjaer was asked about De Gea’s position, replying: ‘Each player has to earn his place . We are a team with competition and this applies to everyone on the team. ‘
Everton face Tottenham in the Cup at Goodison Park on Wednesday, and Carlo Ancelotti was delighted with yet another excellent result away from home. ‘Wow! What an unbelievable game! Fantastic emotion ‘, said the Italian, who received a strong hug from his joyful assistant Duncan Ferguson after the dramatic late draw.
