\This was the same tired story of Manchester United’s season. A powder-puff rearguard, an errant midfield, an overreliance on Cristiano Ronaldo to somehow pull the result their way.
And he did it: yet again. For the third time in Group F the Portuguese levelled at the last, his fifth strike of the group stage a low volley that avoided the amateurish United being consigned to their second defeat.
Before Ronaldo’s intervention, the night’s chief culprits were the dismal Harry Maguire and Paul Pogba, the (supposed) leader of the defence and engine room, who were liabilities and, despite the late escape, the questions will continue regarding Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s position in the buildup to Saturday’s derby against Manchester City at Old Trafford.
Ole Gunnar Solskjær celebrates Cristiano Ronaldo’s late leveller in Bergamo.
United’s shape and plan continues to be executed only intermittently – on Saturday Tottenham were convincingly beaten 3-0; this time Solskjær’s side required a 91st-minute strike from their only consistent player to save them.
United may head the standings on goal difference from Villarreal but they go to Spain next and it would be no surprise if they come unstuck there, and in the last match at home to Young Boys, and are eliminated, as they were last season.
Control is a prime element of what United have lacked so far this season. So when Luke Shaw, Marcus Rashford and Ronaldo tapped the ball about and the latter bounced a shot at Juan Musso and, a little later, Scott McTominay’s effort deflected on to a post, it was an apt start.
Pogba dispossessed Josip Ilicic near halfway to further suggest Solskjær’s men were switched on: this proved inaccurate as Ilicic began to display his craft, a neat reverse pass into Mario Pasalic wrong-footing United’s players for a the second time.
After failing to heed these warnings, Ilicic struck. Loose defending allowed a Duván Zapata raid along the left to go unchecked and when he crossed the Slovenian beat David de Gea, the finish squirming under the goalkeeper’s body. Yet again those in red had placed themselves needlessly behind the eight ball, and raised the volume of a raucous home faithful. A mis-hit Shaw volley, Ronaldo barging Musso, and the Portuguese fluffing a header were the response but each time Atalanta broke United shuddered.
