As Alexis Sanchez’s name was called over Old Trafford’s Tannoy system, signalling that he would be substituted, there were audible cheers. The Chilean’s performance, busy but utterly ineffective, had been Manchester United’s display in microcosm.
Jose Mourinho’s side laboured to this goalless draw against Valencia, offering precious few moments of quality and even fewer moments to suggest they are any closer to solving their manifest problems.
This grim performance exposed Mourinho’s argument that the recent problems are down to his players simply not caring enough to turn the club’s fortunes around. At the final whistle, it was hard to criticise United’s effort, but equally difficult to compliment any other aspect of their play. This was a willing team, but unable.
In his programme notes, Mourinho asked his players to follow three ‘golden rules’: the team is more important than the individual, the crest is more important than the name on the back of the shirt, and the team must never, ever lose its dignity.
The first two are practically the same, of course, and United arguably broke the third on Saturday, in the miserable 3-1 defeat at West Ham which led Mourinho to question the attitude of his players. “I think some care more than others,” he admitted on Monday.
His side began as if out to disprove him. Despite a late warm-up and delayed kick-off due to United’s team bus hitting traffic in central Manchester, United made a purposeful start, showing the energy, endeavour and intensity that was missing in east London.
Yet for all their efforts, there was a damning lack of quality. Marcus Rashford, recalled to the starting line-up and United’s brightest spark in the first half, registered their only shot on target of the opening 45 minutes, shooting straight at Neto from range.
United’s attacking strategy – or lack thereof – could be neatly summed up by Eric Bailly’s attempt at a half-volley from 45 yards out, that was executed as well as you may expect from a centre-half with two career goals to his name.
Valencia, for their part, were not much better. Their only consistent threat was Goncalo Guedes, who glanced wide of David de Gea’s left-hand post early on in the second half, having shot straight into the United ‘keeper’s arms in the first.
A few minutes later, an agitated Old Trafford began to echo Paul Pogba’s calls to “attack, attack, attack” and the midfielder responded, first seeing a half-volley blocked by Exequiel Garay, then having a free-kick pushed over the crossbar by Neto.
Michy Batshuayi, on loan from Chelsea, should have punished United’s lack of imagination shortly after when Cristiano Piccini’s cross was neatly knocked into his path by Rodrigo, but from six yards out, the Belgian lifted his attempt over.
It was well past the hour mark when Mourinho finally made a change, having sent Anthony Martial out to warm up on several occasions already, and it was Sanchez who was sacrificed.
On yet another underwhelming night in his Old Trafford career, Sanchez could not even leave the pitch correctly, walking so slowly he needed to be urged off by the crowd.
In the closing stages, there would still be time for one flash of promise from Rashford, who bounced a free-kick at an impossibly tight on the top of the crossbar. It was as close as United had come all night, and yet not nearly close enough.
