Solskjaer surrenders! Gloomy Ole writes off Manchester United’s title hopes as his side drop key points against Everton following the drama at Old Trafford.
- Manchester United’s title hopes suffered a blow after the dramatic draw with Everton
- Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team was on its way to level with City
- But Dominic Calvert-Lewin held deep in stoppage for part of the loot
- Solskjaer effectively wrote off United’s title evidence after the late equalizer
Harry Maguire asked referee Jon Moss if it had been confirmed that Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s equalizer would be from the last second, and indeed there was no more time left on the clock before he roared the cold in the cold night air. Manchester United kicked off again and Moss blew the whistle.
Maguire’s sentiment will be shared by everyone associated with United. It was a painful draw that felt 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 has fought so many title fights to the last? Rare.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wrote off Manchester United’s title chances after their draw with Everton
It was therefore strange to hear how Ole Gunnar Solskjaer effectively wrote off his team’s chances shortly afterwards.
The United manager has been trying to manage expectations around Old Trafford for the past few weeks, and that is perhaps understandable. But it was completely worse.
“We’re not talking about winning titles,” Solskjaer said. “We have come a long way from this team and we should not have been considered candidates.”
Why not? Manchester City are the biggest favorites, but United are their best challengers in this oddest season that has offered so many possibilities.
Harry Maguire was left in vain after Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s dramatic late equalizer
We are only in February and no one is winning the title now, as Solskjaer said. If United had held on for a few more seconds, they would have played two games with City.
The manager has been in charge for more than two years and mentions a match day team against Everton that cost almost £ 600 million. If United are not yet contenders for the title, perhaps it should be.
They are clearly making progress under Solskjaer and if there is still the slightest hope of challenging the title a little earlier than he expected, why not? There are no guarantees that City will be weaker next season and Liverpool certainly will.
United were on course to level with City before Calvert-Lewin dropped their two points
Roy Keane has already suggested that his old club are ‘scared’ of a title challenge, and sports expert Jamie Redknapp also thinks United should have more conviction.
“You’re not going to have a better chance,” Redknapp said. ‘This United team must believe. This is the year in which anything is possible. They are not children, are they? They are full of experience. He needs to tell this team: believe you can do it. City are by far the best team, but they may still have a blip. ‘
United have an attack to adapt in the Premier League and were henceforth excellent on the 63rd anniversary of the Munich disaster in Munich.
United have an attack to adapt in the league and were well ahead against Everton
Marcus Rashford gave an amazing cross to Edinson Cavani to open the scoring and Bruno Fernandes delivered an even better shot to make it 2-0.
But they were sad in defense and Abdoulaye Doucoure and James Rodriguez struck twice in the four-minute half-time break. Scott McTominay headed United from the front, but Calvert-Lewin equalized in the 95th minute.
It comes from a free kick conceded by United substitute Axel Tuanzebe, who has revealed that he has been subjected to racist abuse for the second time in recent weeks.
The spotlight is back on David de Gea after being criticized for his role in two Everton goals
David de Gea has been criticized for making a poor effort to stop Calvert-Lewin after pushing the ball straight to Doucoure for Everton’s first.
Dean Henderson will probably be in the prospect of the FA Cup match against West Ham on Tuesday night, and Solskjaer was not asked for the first time about De Gea’s position and replied: ‘Every player must earn his place. We are a group with competition and this applies to everyone in the team. ‘
Everton take on Tottenham in the cup at Goodison Park on Wednesday and Carlo Ancelotti was delighted with another excellent result away from home. ‘Wow! What a game, amazing! Fantastic emotion, ‘says the Italian, who received a hug from his cheering assistant Duncan Ferguson after the dramatic late equalizer.
