Manchester United players were totally deflated after a Champions League home defeat to Galatasaray.
You can’t blame them for feeling down, supporters felt the same way too. But what we want to see, is a bit of fight.
In the latter stages of the defeat to Galatasaray, it seemed like all the fight had gone out of them.
According to a detail from the Old Trafford dressing room, this continued off the pitch
Manchester United dressing room reaction
The Times report: “After that defeat, the dressing room was near silent according to those present.”
You would not expect Manchester United’s players to be jumping and cheering, but you might expect some heated debate.
One report in The Sun after the defeat to Brighton claimed there was a ‘furious bust-up’ between players, frustrated with the loss.
Whatever really happened there, it does not seem to have had a galvanising effect on the team.
United’s players have probably realised they can’t go through that after every defeat. It’s happening too often.
But you would like to hope there was more than simply ‘silence’ after the defeat. United need leaders, on and off the pitch, who can inspire a turnaround in form.
It does seem like that is a major factor lacking right now, which has been reflected in the team’s away performances over the past year.
Togetherness needed
Manchester United need togetherness right now, and must pull together ahead of this weekend’s match against Brentford.
After that, the players will splinter off towards their international teams. That might be a positive, to give them a break, or a negative, with the players heading in different directions, when they need to be together.