Manchester United 0, PSV Eindhoven 0: Blunt Reds lose grip on last 16 place
Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal admitted that his side played with fear during their goalless draw with PSV Eindhoven last night which left their Champions League participation in the balance.
The stalemate means United must dispatch group leaders Wolfsburg in their final group match on 8 December to guarantee qualification to the knockout phase. A draw would leave the Red Devils in a perilous position.
Third-placed PSV are a point behind United and host already eliminated CSKA Moscow in their final match, while the Dutch champions have a superior head-to-head record against Van Gaal’s side having beaten them 2-1 at the Philips Stadion in September.
“We could have finished in the first half but also in the second half, to the end we’re not so good any more, we were afraid to play the ball but nevertheless did not give too many chances away,” said Van Gaal.
“The midfielders were dropping too much and that is why we didn’t support too much our front players. We have created in one half three open chances. I cannot say in every game that we didn’t finish but it is the truth.
“It will be very difficult because Wolfsburg are the best team in our group to play against, but it is possible.”
United’s lack of creativity this season has been well documented: the Reds are the lowest scorers in the Premier League’s top seven with just 19 goals in 13 fixtures, although this was their first Champions League blank this term.
Their season has been based on rock solid defensive rigidity and last night’s shut out was their seventh clean sheet in nine matches, dating back to last month’s 3-0 reverse against Arsenal.
But on the 10th anniversary of the death of one of their most prodigious attacking talents, George Best, United were once again left wanting in the final third, as Anthony Martial was twice denied by PSV goalkeeper Jeroen Zoet in the opening period.
United’s best chance fell to Jesse Lingard, who was called up to England’s squad earlier this month for their friendly against France, but the 21-year-old blazed Ashley Young’s cross over the bar with 17 minutes remaining.
“We are not ruthless enough, we have to score more goals as a team,” said United skipper Wayne Rooney. “It’s a learning curve but we cannot go on saying that. We have to change these games into victories.”