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MOTD: Manchester United 0-0 PSV Eindhoven

By on November 25, 2015

In the BT Sport studios in London, Rio Ferdinand, Paul Scholes, and Michael Owen watched as Manchester United fans lit alight Old Trafford with their cell phones in a fitting tribute to George Best on the tenth anniversary of his passing. “There is a Light That Will Never Go Out,” the campaign was titled. One generation of Manchester United legends paid respects to its predecessors. Then they turned on their successors as Louis van Gaal’s United faced PSV Eindhoven.

Yet United lacked any of the attacking style and flair of Best, Scholes, or Owen as they drew PSV goalless in an insipid, uninspiring performance. Owen rounded on United’s defensively oriented fullbacks in BT Sport’s post-match coverage, adding that the United of old would blow them away. Scholes then criticized United’s “lack of quality” in the final third and Anthony Martial’s carelessness. Somewhat fittingly, Rio Ferdinand’s input wasn’t featured in BT Sport’s press release; United’s back-line was superb but there’s no doubt whom the draw suited more. At the final whistle, PSV players rejoiced and embraced, in stark contrast to their opposition, who looked stony faced as they tried to digest the ramifications of the result as they slowly walked down the tunnel.United need a win away in Wolfsburg to secure qualification into the knockout stages unless PSV lose to CSKA Moscow, who have already been eliminated.

Jesse Lingard salvaged United in their last Champions League outing, a narrow 1-0 win over CSKA Moscow, but The Red Devils were exposed with no such luck this time around. Van Gaal’s men have only scored six goals in their last eight matches in all competitions and the Dutchman admitted: “in spite of my changes, it did not improve,” per United’s official website. “I cannot say every game in the interview with you that we didn’t finish but it is the truth,” he told the BBC.

Anthony Martial returned to a center-forward position after a cameo out wide in recent weeks, while Memphis Depay featured out wide left against his former club. Martial came close with two low efforts from a tight angle to the left of goal in close succession towards the end of the first half, but PSV goalkeeper Jeroen Zoet was up to the task on both occasions. They were few and far between, but how United will rue those precious missed chances. Depay failed to make as big of an impact and was hauled off early in the second half, although Van Gaal stayed loyal to Wayne Rooney, who played the entire game but didn’t manage a shot on target over the course of ninety minutes.

United came out with an intensity and energy they’ve so desired, pinning PSV back early on. Lingard’s heavy touch wasted an early chance and Morgan Schneiderlin couldn’t beat Zoet from a corner, yet United’s rhythm began to fade away in the second period. PSV edged their way back into the match, with Jorrit Hendrix’s effort smartly stopped by De Gea and Luuk de Jong blazing a shot inches wide of the target.
The game was slipping away from United and to Van Gaal’s credit, he sensed it, throwing on his Plan B Marouane Fellaini in a last ditch attempt to score. Lingard had a chance late on, the chance, but lofted the ball over from fifteen yards out. Yet again, United were booed off the pitch at the final whistle.

About Alex Morgan

Alex Morgan, founder of Football Every Day, lives and breaths football from the West Coast of the United States in California. Aside from founding Football Every Day in January of 2013, Alex has also launched his own journalism career and hopes to help others do the same with FBED. He covers the San Jose Earthquakes as a beat reporter for QuakesTalk.com and his work has also been featured in the BBC's Match of the Day Magazine.