Manchester United crash out of Europe with a whimper
EUROPEAN JOURNEY ENDS: Bayern Munich's Kingsley Coman celebrates. Pic: Martin Rickett/PA Wire.
HARRY Kane was silenced for once although so, too, were Manchester United’s hopes of making some noise in Europe in the new year as Erik ten Hag team’s bowed out of the Champions League with a whimper against Bayern.
The England striker, who appeared destined to move to Old Trafford for so long in his days with Spurs, had the consolation of providing the assist for Kingsley Coman’s 71st minute goal.
And, with it, United went tumbling out of a Champions League group which looked nigh-on impossible not to qualify from when the draw was made.
With that goal, also, United finished bottom of Group A, meaning they do not even have the consolation of the Europa League to look forward to after Christmas.
Coman started the move for the goal, winning the ball for Leon Goretzka whose short pass to Kane was turned on, masterfully, for the winger to continue and convert comfortably.
With an eye on Kane, Raphael Varane, a four-time winner of the competition, was recalled for his start since the win over Copenhagen in October - United’s only success in this tortuous European campaign.
Ten Hag’s side had scored nine goals in the three away group games, yet emerged with only one point, while Galatasaray sprung a surprise Old Trafford win, leaving United in their precarious pre-match position.
A win, and a draw in the other group game, was the only permutation that would have been sufficient for United to advance and enjoy the riches, and kudos, of competing in the knock-out stages of the Champions League.
And, after the debacle of the weekend defeat to Bournemouth, it was perhaps a surprise that ten Hag made just the two changes, with Varane and Rasmus Hojlund, a goal machine in Europe if not domestically, the only additions.
Early signs were promising, too, with Antony making a couple of skilful, marauding runs down the right and the Brazilian winger cutting in to fire United’s first shot of the night well over.
But there was plenty for United to be fearful about on the opposite side of the field, not least the familiar figure in the number nine jersey who took his place in a full-strength Bayern line-up selected by Thomas Tuchel.
In the opening seconds, Kane nearly picked out Leroy Sane with a cross, although that move featured an offside, and Kane and Joshua Kimmich both tested Andre Onana with long-range shots that produced routine saves.
As Bournemouth had done, Bayern looked threatening on the break, although Luke Shaw improved the atmosphere, and United’s self-belief, with a vicious, swirling long-range strike which Manuel Neuer punched clear.
Passions were further enflamed when Alejandro Garnacho and Coman stumbled off the field, became entangled and players from both sides briefly became engaged in a shoving match.
But when it came to quality football, most was coming from the Germans, with Jamal Musiala slaloming his way into the United area on a surging run which ended with Diogo Dalot blocking Sane’s shot.
There was certainly no evidence of Bayern coasting, despite their place having long since been secured in the knock-outs, and a blistering counter-attack ended with Coman’s cross being mis-hit by Sane when United would have feared the worst.
Things were not exactly going to plan. Before the 40-minute mark, in-form defender Harry Maguire went down, with what appeared to be a groin injury, and limped off to be replaced by 35-year-old veteran Jonny Evans.
Maguire slapped hands with Kane as he gingerly limped past his England team-mate but the striker must have been relishing the chance to go up against his replacement.
Shaw, who had been given a torrid time by Coman in the first half, was replaced by Aaron Wan-Bissaka at the break, hinting at a possible injury, as United kicked off the second half with half the back four that started it having been replaced.
And Wan-Bissaka it was who created the first real opening of the second half, pulling the ball back from the by-line for Bruno Fernandes to shoot wildly over from 16 yards.
With Galatasaray and Copenhagen still goalless in the opening stages of the second half, it was all for United to play for although they knew it would require far more urgency and considerably more skill than had been displayed to that point.
Garnacho’s cross created momentary concern, until scrambled away by Min-Jae Kim, then Kimmich made a rare mistake, gifting the ball to Fernandes in midfield before the United skipper shot wide.
It was better from United, although uncertain whether it would be enough, especially when Copenhagen took the lead soon after. If Musiala had timed his through ball to Sane better a few moments later, the whole issue might have been moot.
It was, with Coman’s goal sucking the little life left out of Old Trafford and leaving United supporters to navigate a painful final 20 minutes that underlined how far they have fallen behind Europe’s elite.
Onana 6; Dalot 6, Maguire 6 (Evans 40, 6), Varane 6 (Mainoo 79, 5), Shaw 5 (Wan-Bissaka 45, 6); McTominay 6, Amrabat 6; Antony 6 (Pellistri 74, 5), Fernandes 6, Garnacho 5 (Mejbri 74, 5); Hojlund 6. Substitutes (not used) Bayindir, Reguilon, Heaton, Mainoo, Gore, Hugill.
Neuer 6; Mazraoui 6 (Laimer 45, 6), Upamecano 7, Kim 7, Davies 7; Kimmich 9, Goretzka 7; Coman 8 (Tel 77, 5), Musiala 7 (Muller 66, 6), Sane 6 (Guerreiro 90); Kane 7. Substitutes (not used) Choupo-Moting, Peretz, Kratzig, Pavlovic.
E Eskas (Norway) 7
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