After José Mourinho’s recent comments about players needing to give their all at all times came another 2-2 draw at home to Arsenal.
The Manchester United
manager made seven changes following the 2-2 draw with Southampton where he
blamed some of his players for being too meek and lacking the fire to fight for the cause.
Changes to
starting line-ups were rampant over this gameweek with the
festive fixtures in mind but José was trying to send a message to his ‘underperforming’
stars also amidst an injury crisis in defence.
The gaffer
continues to demand all sorts of reactions and performances from his players
individually and collectively throughout their underwhelming season.
In a gripping
game at Old Trafford, they delivered another gutsy albeit error-strewn
performance; equalizing shortly after each Arsenal goal but individual mistakes
ultimately cost them.
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| United Players Celebbrate (AFP/Getty Images) |
The United
players constantly grind out results late in games and full credit to Mou for
his tactical tweaks and motivational prowess in such games but this
underwhelming group of players are critically lacking in confidence.
Mourinho was
able to put together a defence line (Dalot-Bailly-Smalling-Rojo-Darmian) for
the visit of Arsenal and to be fair they were impressive for injured or unfit
players but errors decided the outcome of the game.
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| David De Gea (AFP/Getty Images) |
David De Gea’s error-strewn form for Spain has crept into the goalkeeper’s game at his club; he
spilled Shkodran Mustafi’s header over his head and into the goal for the
opener but redeemed himself later on in the game with crucial saves. Marcos Rojo
gave the ball away for Lacazette’s goal but Arsenal were also shambolic at the back
for United’s goals.
José claims they
shot themselves in the foot during the game and you couldn’t agree more. Although
you have to laud the players’ fantastic spirit to recover from their errors.
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| (Getty Images) |
He is trying to provoke a positive reaction from his regular starters and his makeshift defence could only
complete the game without any injury casualties.
It’s a famous
Mourinho trait to not lose when they can’t win. The players seem to have taken
it on fully by mastering the art of coming from behind.
Mourinho keeps getting
these come from behind results from his squad but it is not what
Manchester United aimed to achieve this season. They have fallen well behind in
the top four race and wins alone are needed to get their season back on track.
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