Manchester United’s return to the Champions League began in disappointing fashion on Tuesday evening, as PSV Eindhoven came from behind to defeat the Reds 2-1.
The game was overshadowed by a potentially serious injury suffered by Luke Shaw early on in the match, but United continued their good start to the match even after the Englishman’s departure.Memphis put United in front just before the break, providing the goal deserving of the first half performance.
However, Hector Moreno headed home an equaliser from a corner two minutes into first-half stoppage time.United again looked lively in the opening stages of the second half, but some poor defending allowed PSV to score the winner- a header from Luciano Narsingh in the 57th minute. One of the Reds’ better defenders on the night, Chris Smalling, and his manager Louis van Gaal spoke to the press after the match. Here’s what they had to say:
Louis van Gaal: “It’s a double fracture of the leg [Luke Shaw’s injury] and he shall be transferred to Manchester and there he shall be operated. It is very bad and sad for him but also for our team I think.”
“What can I say as a manager? I mean, when I say it is a red card and a penalty [Moreno’s challenge], then I am a bad loser so, you have to decide that yourself.”
“It [the performance] is the same game as against Swansea. We have dominated the game, we have created chances, we are not finishing. And then the first chance they have – out of a corner kick- they scored. Defeated again. That is the first goal and the second goal we were only attacking and then we lose the ball in the first phase and they scored. That is fantastic for PSV but, for us it is very bad.”
Chris Smalling: “I didn’t see it [Shaw’s injury] first hand, but I know a few of the players did witness it and it was a very sad time and now we wish him a quick recovery.”
When asked what was missing from United’s performance, Smalling added:
“I think just that cutting edge, maybe in that final third to try and make more of our possession. But I think in that first half they scored from their only chance, a corner, and then we gave it away on the outside of our box there and they punished us really with their main two chances, so it’s a very disappointing night.We scored a good goal and we couldn’t really kick on from that and we’ve got a lot to learn to make sure we bounce back on Sunday.”
“No matter if that’s a league game, a cup game or a Champions League game, if you don’t take your chances, if the other team take them then we’ve been well and truly punished.”
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