OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER and Harry Maguire slammed Manchester United’s flops for their defeat to Sheffield United in the biggest shock of the season.
Rock-bottom Blades claimed just their second Premier League win of the campaign – and their first at Old Trafford for 48 years – thanks to goals from Kean Bryan and Oliver Burke.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said his team’s performance was ‘out of character’Credit: Getty Images – Getty
Harry Maguire said his team ‘was not good enough’Credit: PA:Press Association
The result denied Ole’s men top spot, and the United boss fumed: “We are very disappointed. We didn’t create enough. The magic was missing.
“We didn’t have the right ideas or solutions, and the second goal we conceded was so poor and so sloppy. There were three or four decisions that were completely out of character.
“The boys have been terrific the last few months but when you don’t hit those levels you don’t get results.”
Skipper Maguire – who equalised for United in the second half before Burke’s late winner – added: “It wasn’t good enough and we didn’t play to a level we expect from ourselves.
“We gave them two goals, now it’s time to stand up and be counted because it’s easy when you are winning football matches.
“When you lose it is about how quickly you bounce back.”
Sheffield United’s opener was given despite VAR checking a shove in the back by Billy Sharp on David De Gea, while United were denied a leveller for a similar foul by Maguire on Blades keeper Aaron Ramsdale.
Ole raged: “Sharp just runs into him, behind him, so he can’t get up so it’s a foul. And at the other end, no foul.
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“It’s this kind of season, the inconsistencies and it is going to be unpredictable. But that’s human mistakes by the referee.”
Red Devils legend Rio Ferdinand was even more scathing of United’s performance, especially the defending for the Blades’ winner.
He said: “There’s got to be a desire and a switch that says we need to get the ball back, get up the other end of the pitch and try and win it.
“There is not one ounce of urgency which I cannot understand when you have got yourself into a position like this by showing urgency and showing desire.”
The result sees Chris Wilder’s Sheffield United now on eight points and 10 points from safety – remarkably despite having just six subs on the bench due to injuries.
Guiding the club to their first Old Trafford win since 1973, Wilder said: “The boys are jumping about in the dressing room and they have every right to.
“It has been a tough old season so far and they are enjoying the win.
“Obviously, to bring everyone down to earth, we go again over the other side of town next at Man City.
“But I am delighted for the boys.”
Defender Phil Jagielka, 38, won man of the match on BT after being a late entry into the Blades’ starting XI.
He said: “The first person I told was my dad and he laughed, ‘Go and enjoy it, it might be the last time you play at Old Trafford’.
“I’ll have to have an ice bath now but I don’t care.”
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Rio Ferdinand lays into Man Utd players saying desire and urgency was lacking
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
