Basaksehir’s first goal makes Manchester United defense looked like under-10s – Paul Scholes

Manchester United legend, Paul Scholes has described as “under-10s football” the way the Red Devils conceded the first goal during their 2-1 loss in the Champions League against Turkish Champions, Instanbul Basaksehir.

The defeat is coming on the back of a 1-0 loss to Arsenal on Sunday in the Premier League, which ended the four games unbeaten streak. Yesternight’s defeat also ended United two games unbeaten streak in the Champions League, having opened their campaign with two straight wins against last season’s runners up, PSG, and semi-finalist, RB Leipzig.

United got a corner, which they played short and took their time getting into the box. They lost possession and allowed Visca to look up and released a long pass upfield, which left United’s defence deserted, giving 35-year-old Demba Ba a one-on-one opportunity against Dean Henderson from the halfway line. The Senegalese made no mistake by coolly rolling in Basaksehir’s first-ever goal in the competition.

This makes it Man United’s third straight defeat in the Turkish capital after losing their last two away games against Turkish opponents in European competition (0-1 v Galatasaray in November 2012 and 1-2 v Fenerbahçe in November 2016).

“It is comical, it is laughable what happened. They had no-one within 20 yards of their center-forward Ba,” the former Man United midfielder added.

The goal makes it Ba’s fourth career goal against Manchester United, having had a stint with Newcastle United and Chelsea in England.

Formed in 1990, Basaksehir, claimed their maiden Turkish Super Lig title last season and had not scored a goal or claimed a point in their opening two games in the competition before getting their first win against the Red Devils.

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For the second goal, United’s defensive efforts were terrible as well. Deniz Turuc dispossessed Juan Mata and found Edin Visca in acres of space in the box to smash home.

Anthony Martial reduced the parity for the visitors after heading in from a Luke Shaw cross two minutes before the interval, but they could not salvage a result in a shabby second-half showing.

Can Manchester United still make it to the knockout stage of the Champions League?

United already has 6 points from their first two games. This gives them 6 points and they are currently topping the log as goals difference and head-to-head separates them and Leipzig.

After suffering a 6-1 humiliation in the hands of Tottenham last month, United looked to be the low point in their season, picking up three victories and a draw after that result.

But things got back to worse with a 1-0 defeat by Arsenal on Sunday. The feeble showing piled the pressure on manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Solksjaer sure of Manchester United future

This kind of performance is a reminiscence of inconsistent performance seen with Man United under Solksjaer as they tend to build momentum and then throw in dreadful performances.

Meanwhile, Solskjaer has brushed off suggestions he could be sacked following the loss in Turkey.

The club legend, Roy Keane had said after Sunday’s 1-0 defeat to Arsenal that the United players “will get Solskjaer sacked”.

Reacting to the comment at a press conference on Sunday, the Norwegian was quick to play it down saying: “I decline to comment on such a thing.”

“Of course it’s early on. Opinions are out there all the time. You’ve got to stay strong. I’m employed by the club to do a job and I do that to the best of my ability with our staff.”

Istanbul Basaksehir’s defeat makes it four defeat in 11 games so far this season for United. With the latest coming from a team that started the day bottom of Group H without a point or a goal, his job could be on the line.

The next match against Everton could be the final straw for the Norwegian.

“The last two results have been a punch in our stomach and the only way I know of, and I hope the players as well, the only way to respond is to get your act together for Everton

“That’s going to be tough and difficult. I’m glad we’ve got a game on Saturday,” said Solskjaer.

United’s disastrous performance against the Turkish champions was summarised with just two shots on targets for 90 minutes.

The defending was the most concerning part. With such a poor performance, in-form striker, Dominic Calvert-Lewin might be having a field day at Goodison Park.

“First one, we play a short corner and we forget about the man up top and that’s unforgivable.

“The second one, we’re not very well organised to counter, press and win the ball back when we’re playing. Two soft goals to give away and then we didn’t have enough to come back in the second half,” said Solskjaer.