Under Solskjaer United have only won 3 Champions League matches since that night in Paris
In 11 Champions League matches Solskjaer has won 4, lost 7
Under Solskjaer United have managed >50% possession in just two Champions League matches
“Man United are back”
So said Rio Ferdinand on BT Sport after Manchester United overturned a 2-0 first-leg deficit in Paris to beat PSG on 6th March 2019. Gary Neville was effusive too, asking Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, “Where would you like your statue?”
That result surely helped Solskjaer land the job full time and remains a highlight of his tenure. But the Champions League has been problematic since. Despite some success in the Europa League, making the 2020 semi-final and 2021 final, United’s form under Solskjaer in Europe’s premier competition has been poor.
United have now played 11 matches in the Champions League under Solskjaer. They’ve won four and lost seven (36% win percentage). United have only won 3 matches in the Champions League since that night in Paris. What is also striking is how bad United have been at imposing themselves in those matches.
12th February 2019
0-2 vs PSG
Round of 16 Home
44% possession
10 shots/1 on target
6th March 2019
3-1 vs PSG
Round of 16 Away
28% possession
5 shots/4 on target
10th April 2019
0-1 vs Barcelona
Quarter-Final Home
34% possession
10 shots /0 on target
16th April 2019
0-3 vs Barcelona
Quarter-Final Away
34% possession
9 shots/3 on target
20th October 2020
2-1 vs PSG
Group H Away
41% possession
14 shots/6 on target
28th October 2020
5-0 vs RB Leipzig
Group H Home
48% possession
15 shots/8 on target
4th November 2020
1-2 vs İstanbul Başakşehir
Group H Away
62% possession
9 shots/2 on target
24 November 2020
4-1 vs İstanbul Başakşehir
Group H Home
49% possession
16 shots/8 on target
2nd December 2020
1-3 vs PSG
Group H Home
44% possession
11 on shots/5 on target
8th December 2020
2-3 vs RB Leipzig
Group H Away
53% possession
19 on shots/7 on target
14th September 2021
1-2 vs Young Boys
Group F Away
47% possession
2 shots/2 on target
In comparison Chelsea have now played 8 matches in the Champions League under Thomas Tuchel, winning 6 (including last season’s final), drawing 1 and losing 1 (75% win percentage).
In Klopp’s first Champions League campaign at Liverpool in 2017/18 his side played 13 matches as they finished runners-up, winning 7, drawing 4 and losing two (one of which was the final) (54% win percentage)
It gets worse for Solskjaer. In those eleven matches United have had a majority of possession in only 2 of those matches, both away defeats to İstanbul Başakşehir and RB Leipzig. Even in comfortable home wins against Leipzig (5-0) and İstanbul Başakşehir (4-1) last season they still had less than 50% possession. On that famous night in Paris in 2019 United went as low as 28% possession.
In the 2-1 defeat to Young Boys on Tuesday their 2 shots represented the lowest total for United under Solskjaer in the Champions League and although they were down to ten men they will be very disappointed in the way they failed yet again to impose themselves in a match at the highest level.
This is a recurring theme. In the Europa League final against Villareal Solskjaer didn’t make a single change until the 100th minute. His side managed 2 shots on target in 120 minutes. Despite managing 57% possession his side lacked any idea on how to break the Spanish side down.
Solskjaer’s response to Wan-Bissaka’s red flag surely contributed to this. 4 of his 5 substitutions helped surrender any attacking impetus: Diogo Dalot for Jadon Sancho in the 37th minute, Raphaël Varane for Donny van der Beek in the 46th, Jesse Lingard for Cristiano Ronaldo and Nemanja Matic for Bruno Fernandes both in the 72nd. The only positive substitution, Anthony Martial for Fred, was in the 89th minute.
There are obvious parallels with Gareth Southgate at England. In the Euro 2020 final against Italy Southgate allowed the game to slip away after taking the lead, with only 39% possession. They only managed one shot on target in 120 minutes.
In game management at the highest level remains the biggest question mark over Solskjaer as a coach. There’s no question that he’s been positive at United, improving both the atmosphere and the squad in general. And his record in the biggest matches in the league has been fine. It’s also true that coaches can overplay their hand when it comes to tailoring their approach to the biggest matches: Pep Guardiola is particularly guilty of this.
But with two matches against Villareal and Atalanta to come this was an opportunity missed for United. The error from Lingard smacked of those last season against İstanbul Başakşehir and RB Leipzig. The margin for error is now much smaller and United will surely have to get at least a draw away in both Spain and Italy now. Unless Solskjaer can improve United’s possession in the Champions League his poor record will become harder to turn around. He needs more answers than “that’s football”.
Stats from BBC and UEFA