Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer criticises 'unforgivable' defending after Basaksehir shock

It was the first ever Champions League win for Turkish side

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer looks dejected after the defeat at Istanbul Basaksehir. Reuters

Istanbul Basaksehir players celebrate after Demba Ba scores his side's opening goal. AP

Basaksehir's Demba Ba celebrates scoring their first goal. Reuters

Manchester United goalkeeper Dean Henderson is beaten by Edin Visca for the second goal. AP

Basaksehir's Edin Visca celebrates with his teammates after scoring his side's second goal. AP

Manchester United forward Anthony Martial celebrates scoring. AFP

Edinson Cavani of Manchester United goes down injured. Getty

Anthony Martial of Manchester United during the match. Getty

Coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer shakes hands with Nemanja Maticat. AFP

Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes reacts. AFP

Istanbul Basaksehir players celebrates at the whistle. AFP

Alexandru Epureanu of Istanbul Basaksehir FK clears the ball off of the line. Getty

Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes, left, and Manchester United's Edinson Cavani walk in dejection at the end of the game. AP

Istanbul Basaksehir's Serbian midfielder Danijel Aleksic celebrates at the end of the match. AFP

Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer blasted "unforgivable" defending from his hapless side as they slumped to an embarrassing 2-1 Champions League defeat against Istanbul Basaksehir.

United started the game as firm favourites after an impressive win against Paris Saint-Germain and a 5-0 humbling of RB Leipzig.

But defeat in Turkey - a first-ever Champions League group-stage win for Basaksehir - heaps the pressure on the Norwegian boss, whose side looked short of inspiration and basic defensive nous in Istanbul.

The three-time European champions were badly exposed on the break as former Chelsea forward Demba Ba and Edin Visca gave the home team a two-goal cushion.

United gave themselves hope when they reduced the deficit shortly before half-time through an Anthony Martial header.

But despite multiple second-half changes and an array of attacking talent, Solskjaer's lacklustre team could not find a way past the organised Basaksehir defence.

Solskjaer said the performance against the hard-working Turkish side was not good enough.

"They scored two goals like you do in Europe when you do not defend well enough," he said.

"The first one is that we play a short corner and forget about the man up top. That is unforgivable. The second one as well, we are not very well organised to counter the press.

"You don't turn up and get three points in the Champions League," he added. "They are a team well organised and we were not good enough. That is it."

United, who have made a poor start to the Premier League season with three losses in their first six games, played poorly in the first half and although they showed greater urgency after the interval, they only managed one more effort on target.

Solskjaer sent on Paul Pogba and Edinson Cavani as substitutes and in stoppage time Alexandru Epureanu brilliantly cleared off the line to prevent an own goal as United's 18-match unbeaten away run in all competitions ended.

"We hoped we had enough to create chances, we just didn't. Emotions don't matter - when you lose, well you can think to yourself how we feel after we lose, that's not something we go out to do," Solskjaer said.

United appeared to have turned the corner after their 6-1 mauling by Tottenham last month but they have now suffered consecutive defeats to Arsenal and Basaksehir.

"They (two losses) have set us back a lot," said Solskjaer, whose team travel to Everton on Saturday. "You get a reality check every time you play a game of football."