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LONDON: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer lashed out at the Premier League schedule after Manchester United fought back to beat Everton 3-1 on Saturday (7 November), saying his struggling team was “prepared to fail”.
Man of the match Bruno Fernandes scored twice after Bernard gave Everton the lead, before Edinson Cavani opened his account for United, easing the pressure on the embattled United manager.
United started the match at Goodison Park in 15th place in the Premier League table, sore after the loss to Arsenal and an embarrassing loss to Istanbul Basaksehir.
A visibly angry Solskjaer praised his players after the game, but fired a volley at league chiefs for scheduling United’s game early Saturday after their midweek commitments in the Champions League.
“We were prepared to fail,” the Norwegian told BT Sport.
“The start time set us up to fail. We’ve been to Turkey, we’ve played a lot of games this season, we came back Thursday morning and we played Saturday lunchtime, it’s an absolute disaster.
“These guys deserve better. Luke Shaw got hurt because of that. He’s a hamstring that could be long and Marcus Rashford could be struggling.”
“The authorities prepared us to fail, who is responsible? We have had enough. Players this season, in these times, a pandemic, mentally and physically is exhausting. Let’s play on a Sunday, there is an international break after this, it is a joke “.
ABSENT FORM
The pioneer Carlo Ancelotti’s home win at the start of the season was United’s seventh consecutive victory in the Premier League.
Their form on the road is in stark contrast to their struggles at Old Trafford, where they haven’t won a single league game so far this season.
Bernard put Everton ahead in the 19th minute. The ball fell to the Brazilian after a long punt from Jordan Pickford.
He dragged the ball off his right foot, outscoring Aaron Wan-Bissaka, before driving a shot past David de Gea at his near post.
United’s heads might have fallen, but they were level six minutes later when Fernandes, given too much room in the box, headed a Shaw cross into the top corner past Pickford.
Lucas Digne had a chance to put Everton in front when the game opened, but slammed his shot into the outside of De Gea’s near post from a tight angle.
United, now playing with much more energy and determination, took the lead in the 32nd minute. Rashford picked up the ball before feeding Fernandes to the left of the area.
The Portuguese, who was thriving in the absence of Paul Pogba, who remained on the bench, huddled over a cross for Rashford, who was unable to connect with his header but the ball slipped through the far post.
Everton dominated possession in the early stages of the second half, but United’s defense, led by the impressive Harry Maguire, had no problems.
United claimed an hour penalty after Pickford’s awkward challenge to Maguire, but Everton escaped.
Solskjaer interposed Pogba and Cavani with eight minutes to go and the Uruguayan scored his first goal for United in injury time thanks to a disinterested pass from Fernandes, which lifted United to 13th place before the international break.
Everton, which topped the Premier League table earlier this season, have now suffered three consecutive losses in the league.
“I hope that after the international break we will come back in a different way,” Ancelotti said. “It is not just a problem for the defenders, it is for the whole team.
“I know how to handle difficulties, you have them every year. We can start again after the break, we are very bad at the moment but we started well.
Frank Lampard’s Chelsea have a chance to climb to third place in the table if they beat Sheffield United at Stamford Bridge on Saturday night.
On the other hand, Crystal Palace welcomes Leeds and West Ham welcomes Fulham at London Stadium.
