• MANCHESTER UNITED RATINGS: Dean Henderson, 6: Picked amid claims from his manager that he had matured. He had kept a clean sheet in his two previous games this season. Couldn’t manage it in his third. Can’t be blamed for goals. Reuters
    MANCHESTER UNITED RATINGS: Dean Henderson, 6: Picked amid claims from his manager that he had matured. He had kept a clean sheet in his two previous games this season. Couldn’t manage it in his third. Can’t be blamed for goals. Reuters
  • Aaron Wan-Bissaka, 5: Up down, up down. His role, his form. Getty
    Aaron Wan-Bissaka, 5: Up down, up down. His role, his form. Getty
  • Harry Maguire, 5: Didn’t look like the captain was leading his own defence, let alone team. United’s shape when they lost the ball for the first goal was all wrong and, according to Solskjaer, not the goal you expect to see at this level. AFP
    Harry Maguire, 5: Didn’t look like the captain was leading his own defence, let alone team. United’s shape when they lost the ball for the first goal was all wrong and, according to Solskjaer, not the goal you expect to see at this level. AFP
  • Axel Tuanzebe, 4: Played because Lindelof had a bad back. Booked after 20 minutes chasing Ba, aged 35. Even the Istanbul coach was surprised his side scored such a goal. Fantastic in Paris, flustered in Istanbul. AP
    Axel Tuanzebe, 4: Played because Lindelof had a bad back. Booked after 20 minutes chasing Ba, aged 35. Even the Istanbul coach was surprised his side scored such a goal. Fantastic in Paris, flustered in Istanbul. AP
  • Luke Shaw, 7: Very advanced – and being up for corners left defence exposed. Shot across goal early in game and crossed for Martial’s header just before half time. Made more key passes than anyone. United’s best player. AP
    Luke Shaw, 7: Very advanced – and being up for corners left defence exposed. Shot across goal early in game and crossed for Martial’s header just before half time. Made more key passes than anyone. United’s best player. AP
  • Nemanja Matic, 5: The deepest United player for Istanbul’s opener – despite being well in the opponents’ half. Poor first half, then dropped to be central defender for second, but was still pushed off the ball by Gulbrandsen. Too static. AFP
    Nemanja Matic, 5: The deepest United player for Istanbul’s opener – despite being well in the opponents’ half. Poor first half, then dropped to be central defender for second, but was still pushed off the ball by Gulbrandsen. Too static. AFP
  • Juan Mata, 5: Seldom involved and easily dispossessed by Turuc for Istanbul’s second. Played well in previous starts this season, but not tonight. AFP
    Juan Mata, 5: Seldom involved and easily dispossessed by Turuc for Istanbul’s second. Played well in previous starts this season, but not tonight. AFP
  • Donny van de Beek, 6: Got on the ball, played deeper than usual, though at least he played. Lively, tackled and was first to come off because manager felt the team were leaning to the left. Getty
    Donny van de Beek, 6: Got on the ball, played deeper than usual, though at least he played. Lively, tackled and was first to come off because manager felt the team were leaning to the left. Getty
  • Bruno Fernandes, 6: Volley wide after five, good balls forward, though his poor ball back to Mata contributed to Basaksehir's second. Free kick tested Gunok and had twice as many shots (4) as anyone on the pitch but ultimately couldn’t help get the breakthrough. AFP
    Bruno Fernandes, 6: Volley wide after five, good balls forward, though his poor ball back to Mata contributed to Basaksehir's second. Free kick tested Gunok and had twice as many shots (4) as anyone on the pitch but ultimately couldn’t help get the breakthrough. AFP
  • Anthony Martial, 5. Skilfully aimed header for United’s goal, but limited threat and ran in blind alleys. Getty
    Anthony Martial, 5. Skilfully aimed header for United’s goal, but limited threat and ran in blind alleys. Getty
  • Marcus Rashford, 4: Did he play? United forced one shot on target from open play. AP
    Marcus Rashford, 4: Did he play? United forced one shot on target from open play. AP
  • SUBS: Scott McTominay (on for Tuanzebe, 45) 6: Vocal – as he was against Arsenal and one of United’s better players. AP
    SUBS: Scott McTominay (on for Tuanzebe, 45) 6: Vocal – as he was against Arsenal and one of United’s better players. AP
  • Edinson Cavani (on for Mata, 60) 5: Poor service, a few touches. Needs a goal. At least his made the opposing manager happy by giving him his shirt as a present for his son. AFP
    Edinson Cavani (on for Mata, 60) 5: Poor service, a few touches. Needs a goal. At least his made the opposing manager happy by giving him his shirt as a present for his son. AFP
  • Paul Pogba (on for Van de Beek, 61) 5: Involved, but struggled to break down the Turkish wall. Reuters
    Paul Pogba (on for Van de Beek, 61) 5: Involved, but struggled to break down the Turkish wall. Reuters
  • Timothy Fosu-Mensah (on for Wan Bissaka, 75) N/A: Fast recovery when Gulbrandsen pushed forward for a third. Reuters
    Timothy Fosu-Mensah (on for Wan Bissaka, 75) N/A: Fast recovery when Gulbrandsen pushed forward for a third. Reuters
  • Mason Greenwood (on for Rashford, 75) N/A: Little impact. Reuters
    Mason Greenwood (on for Rashford, 75) N/A: Little impact. Reuters

Football

Marcus Rashford 4, Anthony Martial 5, Luke Shaw 7: Manchester United ratings v Basaksehir

Shock defeat for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will pile up the pressure

Andy Mitten
Andy Mitten
Barcelona and Manchester

November 05, 2020

  • English
  • Arabic

Manchester United paid dearly for a shambolic first-half defensive display as they slipped to an embarrassing 2-1 Champions League defeat against Istanbul Basaksehir.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side, floundering in the Premier League, had started their European campaign in style with 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 - will heap the pressure on the Norwegian boss, whose side looked short of inspiration and basic defensive nous in Istanbul.

The result ended Manchester United's longest away winning run in all competitions in their history - 10 straight victories - and was their first away defeat in 19 matches since losing in January at Liverpool in the Premier League.

Solskjaer said United's performance "wasn't good enough, against a team that worked and ran".

"They hit us on the break a couple of times, and scored two goals like sometimes happens in Europe when you don't defend well enough," he told BT Sport.

He added: "You don't just turn up and get three points in the Champions League, and that's shown here today. We were not good enough, that's it."

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

Turkey