Manchester United’s terrible season reached new heights as they lost to Bayern Munich at Old Trafford and were eliminated from the Champions League at the group stage.
After suffering a 3-0 loss to Bournemouth at home in the Premier League on Saturday, Erik ten Hag’s team needed to defeat the Bundesliga winners and hope that Copenhagen and Galatasaray’s other group match ended in a draw.
And on a night of bitter disappointment, United were still unable to live up to their half of the agreement, even if Bayern were already resounding winners of Group A.
Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw’s first-half injuries severely limited United, and rumors of Copenhagen’s victory in Denmark were beginning to circulate.
With 20 minutes remaining, Bayern scored the game-winning goal to clinch their fate.
In front of the Stretford End, England captain Harry Kane unavoidably played a part with a clever touch to release Kingsley Coman, who easily beat exposed United keeper Andre Onana.
United only emerged victorious from six group matches in the league, and their loss to Bayern means they also lost out on the opportunity to finish third and advance to the Europa League.
Copenhagen managed to defeat Galatasaray 1-0 in the other Group A encounter in order to advance to the Round of 16.
Manchester United’s tame European exit
The smattering of jeers that greeted the final whistle as United slid out of the Champions League, and indeed all European competition for this season, mirrored the mood of resignation that hung over Old Trafford long before the final whistle.
Anyone who expected United to come out swinging in an attempt to overturn the odds and reach the knockout stages would have been sorely disappointed as Ten Hag’s team were timid and toothless, mustering a miserly single shot on target against a Bayern side who did not have anything to play for.
The injuries to Maguire and Shaw, watched by England manager Gareth Southgate, did not help United’s cause but this cannot be offered up as an excuse for a performance desperately lacking in quality, inspiration and creation.
Bayern’s veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer was untroubled throughout, with all the pace and threat on offer on a low-key night coming from the Germans, who were rewarded for their superiority with Coman’s winner.
The space and time afforded before his finish almost embarrassing.
Rasmus Hojlund had a chastening sight, running tirelessly without any service and being outmuscled comprehensively by Dayot Upamecano and Kim Min-jae. The Dane was bent over exhausted and beaten seconds before the final whistle.
When the draw for this group was made, United must have relished their return to the Champions League but it has been a harrowing experience.
They came up short on the twin faults of a team that is not fit for purpose and also only too happy to engineer their own downfall, as they did when conceding two-goal leads to lose in Copenhagen and draw away to Galatasaray.
United now have all the feel of a club in crisis with Ten Hag under serious scrutiny and the prospect of a tough trip to Liverpool on Sunday, with Maguire and Shaw likely missing through injury and captain Bruno Fernandes suspended.
Troubled times at Old Trafford.
Kane’s touch of class
England captain Kane had a relatively quiet night as he returned to Old Trafford but offered up a touch of class that helped Coman to settle the game.
Kane’s delicate touch on the edge of the area unlocked the United defence, leaving the France forward to complete the formalities on this dismal night for the home supporters.
And the former Spurs striker showed exactly what he has brought to Bayern, dropping deep as a creator while also showing a willingness to do the dirty work by chasing back to defend.
Kane is a class act, as we know. No wonder United manager Ten Hag was keen to bring him to Old Trafford before reluctantly accepting this was a deal that could not be done.
(BBC)