LONDON • Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has described the 2-0 defeat by Arsenal on Sunday and the consequent failure to apply pressure in the race for the Premier League's top four as his "lowest" point since taking charge of Manchester United in December.
The caretaker manager also blamed his first defeat in 13 league matches on missed chances.
Romelu Lukaku and Fred hit the woodwork as United failed to score for the first time in 22 away games in all competitions this season, missing the chance to move level on points with Tottenham in third place in the league.
"The performance was good, but the result was disappointing... we lost and missed the chance to put pressure on Spurs," Solskjaer said. "It is one of those days you have to dust yourselves down from.
"We created miles more chances than we did when we won here in the FA Cup (a 3-1 fourth-round victory in January). Sometimes, you don't take them and we just didn't take them.
"We have won games we have not deserved to win, and today we lost a game we did not deserve to lose. Hopefully, we will be ready for Wolves in the FA Cup next week."
While Solskjaer admitted his players "did not have the zip" at the Emirates, ending a club record of nine straight away wins, he also attributed the loss to a soft spot kick decision, which was converted by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
"The referee (Jon Moss) will be disappointed when he sees it as I don't think it is a penalty," he said.
"I don't think there's enough contact there (on Alexandre Lacazette). It's not a dive, but apparently, Fred is very strong."
Although pundits blamed United goalkeeper David de Gea after he was caught wrong-footed for Granit Xhaka's long-range opener, Solskjaer exonerated him from fault as the Arsenal midfielder had struck the ball like a Brazilian.
Former United defender Gary Neville told Sky Sports the Spain No. 1 had "made a big mistake" and "it was a determining factor", while former Leeds defender Danny Mills told BBC Radio Five Live it was "an incredibly poor error (as) it wasn't a particularly well-hit shot".
But Solskjaer dismissed Xhaka's strike as "one of those things", adding: "I don't class it as a mistake. We didn't put enough pressure on (him), it swerves and moves. It goes to David's left and changes direction completely."
The Norwegian's sombre mood was, however, in contrast to Unai Emery's players, who seized the opportunity to mock Jesse Lingard after the game.
The United forward, who did not play owing to injury, had incensed the Gunners with his moon-walk celebration after scoring in the FA Cup meeting and for tagging the Emirates as his "dance floor" on his Instagram account.
Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil referenced him in a post-match tweet which read: "Dance floor huh?! Superb performance! Brilliant result! Thank you Emirates Stadium! Proud to be a Gunner!"
Goalkeeper Bernd Leno also revealed the team were "motivated" to gain a measure of revenge over Lingard. The German said: "In your mind, you will never forget something like that.
"You don't want to see it again... we knew before the game about our chance because United had one more point than us.
"Now we have a two-point lead. We are in the top four and the other teams now wait for our mistakes."
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, THE TIMES, LONDON
Armagh manager Kieran McGeeney says missing out with three first-half goal chances made a "big difference" in the Ulster SFC semi-final replay defeat by Cavan. McGeeney rues missed Orchard
Solskjaer & Young rue missed chances in Arsenal defeat
Brighton & Hove Albion women's first-team manager Hope Powell was disappointed with her side's 1-1 draw against Yeovil Town this evening, and admitted she saw the match as two points lost. Victoria Williams gave Albion the lead, and the team had multiple chances to extend their lead before Yeovil eq
The caretaker manager blamed a first domestic defeat in 13 league matches on missed chances and exonerated David de Gea from fault when the keeper was beaten by Granit Xhaka for the opening goal.
Rassie Erasmus happy with Bok win but rues missed chances
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was frustrated with Manchester United's inability to take their chances against Barcelona but says they can still progress. Solskjaer Rues
McGeeney rues missed Orchard chances in replay defeat - bbc.co.uk
Tuchel rues missed chances as PSG crash out of Champions League: PSG coach Thomas Tuchel says his side were more deserving of a place in the quarter-finals after a stoppage time Manchester United penalty knocks the French giants out
Robbie Kruse rues missed chances in loss | Sporting News
Ole rues missed chances - theworldnews.net
The Wallabies now head to Argentina with their coach, Michael Cheika, also blaming missed chances for the defeat, but conceding there were areas in which they were outplayed. "We didn't manage the physical contest, but we still managed to create opportunities. But we just didn't take them," said Cheika.
POWELL RUES MISSED CHANCES - News - Brighton & Hove Albion
Solskjaer & Young rue missed chances in Arsenal defeat | Arsenal 2-0 Manchester United | Reaction Hear from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ashley Young after the Reds' defeat to Arsenal on Sunday.
Tuchel rues missed chances as PSG crash out of - One News
Solskjaer rues missed chances. 2:45 Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says Manchester United created some great chances but did not take them in their 2-0 defeat to Arsenal. Watch Next. Carvalhal lauds Prem
Solskjaer Rues Missed Chances - Complete Sports
Kruse rues missed chances in loss. Brisbane boy Kruse was a second half substitute and he had a golden chance to equalise had it not been for the brilliance of South Korean goalkeeper Kim Jin
Solskjaer rues Manchester United's missed chances against Arsenal
Ole rues missed chances LONDON • Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has described the 2-0 defeat by Arsenal on Sunday and the consequent failure to apply pressure in the race for the Premier League's top four as his "lowest" point since taking charge of Manchester United in December.
Solskjaer rues missed chances | Video - skysports.com
No comments:
Post a Comment