Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s defensiveness is becoming a problem | OneFootball

‘The glass is always half-full with me. That’s just the way you have to look at it. In my time against Man City, that’s the best performance we’ve had. Not the best result but it’s the best performance.’

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s words after yesterday’s dour 0-0 draw in the Manchester derby had a hollow ring to them and left you wondering whether he really meant them, or whether he has become some sort of football spin doctor. ‘Two good teams. We beat them a few times last season but those were different games and we counter-attacked. Today was the most we’ve been in the game as in possession-wise and control.’ If we compare yesterday’s match with the same fixture from last season, it is true that United had more possession (46.2% yesterday vs. 27.7% last season). But is this a sign of improvement or one that both teams just didn’t have the oomph to attack the game and try to win as they did a year ago? The fact is that for all that extra possession, United had fewer shots this season than last (11 yesterday vs 12 last season), and a third as many on target (two yesterday vs. six last season). Solskjaer also said ‘we kept them away from our box more than we’ve done in those games but they had a few big moments,’ but the stat comparison tells a different story: City had more shots yesterday (nine) than they did last season (seven). Their problem yesterday was wayward shooting rather than United’s defending (only two on target vs. four last season). Stat 2019-202020-21United shots1211 United shots on target62 City shots79 City shots on target42

‘David has made a fantastic save from Mahrez, Harry made two great blocks from Sterling and De Bruyne,’ Solskjaer continued. It is like a lower league manager talking about his team’s heroics against vastly superior opposition. City had two shots on target and United’s goalkeeper is being singled out for praise. This is Manchester United, but the words coming out of the manager’s mouth are embarrassing. His assessment of United’s attacking threat was equally painful. ‘From corner-kicks, Harry had a header, Scott could have tapped one in at the back post and Victor had a couple of headers, Marcus had a couple of decent moments. We could have won it but it wasn’t to be.’ It is almost as if he has to clutch at the straw of every single attacking moment his side has. Remember: United had two shots on target in the whole match. This was not a ‘we had so many chances, but it wasn’t to be’ kind of occasion. Before the Champions League tie with RB Leipzig on Tuesday, Solskjaer said ‘you can’t sit back and hope for a 0-0 draw. That’s not in our genes, it’s not in the team’s genes, it’s not in the club’s genes.’ He then lined up with five at the back and two defensive midfielders. Against City yesterday, there were seven defensive players on the pitch.