Ole Gunnar Solskjaer explains why Donny van de Beek was substituted at half time against Young Boys
Manchester United fall to Young Boys
On Cristiano Ronaldo’s return to the Champions League with Manchester United, a woeful Red Devils side conceded a last-minute winner against Swiss outfit Young Boys.
It was Ronaldo who opened the scoring on the night after a delicious pass from Bruno Fernandes in the first half, but the result rendered the goal obsolete.
It just had to be him, didn’t it! 🎯
Cristiano Ronaldo gives Man Utd the lead at Young Boys! ⚽️
Three goals in two appearances. A fairytale return to the Red Devils so far! pic.twitter.com/NpbHZOySKU
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) September 14, 2021
A first-half red card to Aaron Wan Bissaka for a high tackle skewed what had to that point been an even tie in favour of the Swiss hosts, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer opting to remove attacker Jadon Sancho in favour of a replacement right back just after the incident, much to the distress of Manchester United fans.
A second change was forthcoming during the half time interval too, with Raphael Varane replacing little-used midfielder Donny Van de Beek, who was seeing his first start of the season.
Solskjaer explains half time change
The change left Fred with the job of two defensive midfielders, saw the Red Devils switch to a back three, which ultimately failed as they lost the tie with virtually the last kick of the game.
When quizzed about the bizarre change, Solskjaer revealed:
“Like Harry said here as well, the signs were there in the last five minutes of the first-half that we were going to get crosses in the box,”
“We knew they’d put the big tall striker on and we had to deal with their switches a lot better.
“I thought Rapha, Victor and Harry coped with it well. Of course, the deflected goal for the first one, off Luke and it changes direction, but apart from that, it was the best way of controlling them.
“But we should have done better with the ball”
If it had worked, Van de Beek could have had no complaints of being sacrificed for the team. However, with his position precarious in the squad, he has every right to feel hard done by.
