Alexis Sanchez Isn’t the Answer For Manchester United!
When Manchester United lost duo Anthony Martial and Jesse Lingard to injury, their team didn’t look the same as they slumped to a 2-0 at home defeat to PSG in the Champions League.
After the game, United’s interim boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer stated (Source – BBC Sport):
“Today was a kind of a reality check on the level of the top teams,”
“That is the level we want to get to. Top four is one thing. United should be at the top. They are a top team. [Our players] know we need to step up our level. We are disappointed.”
I think Ole has a point, Man Utd should constantly aspire to become the best and last night showed everyone that they aren’t at that level yet.
I also believe that yesterday’s tie showed us that Alexis Sanchez isn’t the same force he once was.
I’m not sure if he’s lost his hunger for the game, if he’s lost a yard of pace, if he’s void of any confidence, just doesn’t suit United’s system or a combination of all of those things but ultimately he isn’t giving the club what they need.
I was actually fairly surprised that Solskjaer decided to fling the Chilean and Juan Mata on before fellow substitute Romelu Lukaku.
Sanchez has been used very sparingly thus far during the Norwegian’s tenure. He did manage two assists and a goal in January but too many times he seems to go hiding or slow up play.
He is Man Utd’s top earner and he hasn’t merited that wage since arriving to much fanfare in January 2018.
He played forty-six minutes against the Ligue 1 champions and he just couldn’t get into the game or make any sort of meaningful impact.
In total, according to Whoscored, Alexis only had 26 touches of the ball and made just seventeen passes. PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon managed better stats with his touches and passes.
The forward also had zero attempts at the opposition’s goal and didn’t make any successful tackles.
Sanchez was brought to Old Trafford to make positive impacts and in the biggest of games. Like most of his time at United, he was once again pretty invisible when his team needed him the most.
It’s also quite telling that the forward didn’t huff or moan, as he used to do at Arsenal. That at least showed that he had passion and wanted more from his teammates.
Now personally I’d have brought Lukaku on for Lingard and stuck the Belgian forward out onto the right flank. The attacker has shown in the past, most recently in United’s FA Cup win over Arsenal that he can caused plenty of issues out on that wing. His physical and direct presence out on the right would’ve pinned Spanish left-back Juan Bernat back. The PSG man bombed forward at every opportunity in the second half, realising Mata wouldn’t pose too many issues.
Then when Martial couldn’t start the second half, I’d have plumped for Mata instead of Sanchez. Then play the World Cup winner as a number ten behind Lukaku and Marcus Rashford. Juan Mata has produced big moments for Man United and Sanchez hasn’t!
Manchester United have been superb under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer since his arrival. Last night was his first defeat in his opening eleven fixtures.
They were outclassed and they lacked the street smarts to overcome a strong side like PSG in that type of encounter but essentially they’ll all learn from it. They now have a new yardstick to work towards.
The caretaker manager will also have learned from the experience and he might believe that he can no longer put his trust into Alexis Sanchez because the Chilean certainly didn’t earn it when it mattered.
Posted on February 13th, 2019 by scott
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