Manchester United's defense falls, obstructing the path to the fourth place
On December 16th, in the 16th round of the English Premier League, Manchester United teamed up with Bournemouth at the Dream Theatre to deliver a stunning 4-4 draw. In this crazy game, both teams completed an astonishing 39 shots in total, setting a new record for the number of shots taken in a single Premier League game this season. For Manchester United, who aspire to qualify for the Champions League, being tied twice by mid table teams despite leading twice at home and losing the crucial 2 points exposes problems far beyond the score itself.
The competition was destined to be extraordinary from the beginning. Manchester United made a dream start with a header from Amad in the 13th minute, but their lead was only maintained for less than 30 minutes. In the 40th minute, Luke Shaw's ball was broken on the left side of the backcourt, and Bournemouth counterattacked on the spot, equalizing the score with a small angle shot from Semeneo. Manchester United took the lead again with a header from Casemiro before halftime, but the cheers of the fans did not stop. Just one minute into the second half, Bournemouth equalized again with a one-on-one goal from Evanielson. The subsequent game completely lost control. In the 52nd minute, Tavenie scored a direct free kick to overtake the score; In the 77th minute, B scored a world-class goal to equalize for Manchester United for the third time; Two minutes later, Cunha's goal gave Manchester United their fourth lead; However, in the 84th minute, Krupi's goal ultimately locked the score at 4-4.
Throughout the game, Manchester United had the upper hand in possession, completing 25 shots and 9 on target shots, while Bournemouth responded with 14 shots and 9 on target shots. The data of a total of 18 shots from both teams reflects the speed and intensity of the transition between offense and defense in this game. But what is even more worrying is Manchester United's defensive efficiency. Bournemouth scored 4 goals in just 14 shots, with a conversion rate of 28.6%, while Manchester United also scored 4 goals in 25 shots, with a conversion rate of 16%. In the face of the opponent's efficient attack, Manchester United's defense appears to be riddled with holes. According to Sky Sports statistics, Amorim has coached Manchester United in 43 Premier League matches, with only 6 clean sheets and a clean sheet rate of only 14%. Among coaches who have coached at least 40 Premier League games, his clean sheet rate ranks seventh lowest, which undoubtedly exacerbates doubts about Manchester United's defensive system from the outside world.
In this high scoring draw, the referee's multiple decisions have also sparked controversy. Only 2 minutes into the game, B Fei's shot bounced back and hit the defender's hand, but the referee did not award a penalty. In the 25th minute, Bournemouth player Scott was suspected of handball while competing for the top, but the referee also ignored it. In the first half stoppage time, Manchester United was given a free kick opportunity, and Bournemouth players were suspected of handball. The referee ultimately awarded a corner kick instead of a penalty. Emotional outburst is also a part of this game. During stoppage time in the first half, Semenio clashed with Dalot and choked the latter. The referee gave each of them a yellow card. These controversial decisions and conflicts reflect the intensity of the game and the immense pressure that both players are under.
After the game, Manchester United manager Amorim couldn't hide his disappointment in an interview with the BBC: "Very disappointed, we are very disappointed. It was a crazy game. It seemed like we lost two points in the second half, but I think we lost them in the first half." He further explained, "We controlled the game and created so many opportunities. We should have entered halftime with a different score." This statement implies that Amorim is extremely dissatisfied with the team's focus and defensive organization in the lead. This Portuguese coach has been trying to implant his tactical ideas into the team since taking over Manchester United, but the instability on the defensive end has always been a problem for him. In this game, Manchester United was quickly equalized twice despite leading twice, exposing the team's defensive focus and tactical discipline issues at critical moments of the game.
This draw has kept Manchester United's points at 26 points, ranking sixth in the league and still lagging behind the Champions League zone. Bournemouth, on the other hand, achieved 21 points with this point, ranking 13th and further away from the relegation zone. For Manchester United, competing for a Champions League spot in the top four is the minimum goal for this season. But being unable to secure all three points in a mid table match against a team like Bournemouth undoubtedly casts a shadow over this goal. The team's ability to create opportunities on the offensive end is beyond doubt, but the fragility on the defensive end may become a key factor limiting the team's upper limit. The competition in the Premier League this season is extremely fierce, and if Manchester United wants to enter the top four at the end of the season, they must make substantial improvements in their defense. Amorim needs to find a way to balance offensive firepower and defensive stability, otherwise Manchester United is likely to experience another disappointing season.
