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Champions League: Defeat to Barcelona Shows Manchester United Have a Long Way to Go

By Arjun Balaraman

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 12: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Manager of Manchester United during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 First Leg match between Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain at Old Trafford on February 12, 2019 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 12: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Manager of Manchester United during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 First Leg match between Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain at Old Trafford on February 12, 2019 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images) /
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BARCELONA, SPAIN – APRIL 16: Lionel Messi of Barcelona is challenged by Scott McTominay of Manchester United during the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final second leg match between FC Barcelona and Manchester United at Camp Nou on April 16, 2019 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
BARCELONA, SPAIN – APRIL 16: Lionel Messi of Barcelona is challenged by Scott McTominay of Manchester United during the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final second leg match between FC Barcelona and Manchester United at Camp Nou on April 16, 2019 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) /

Lionel Messi’s brilliance tore United to bits on Tuesday, and his play highlighted many of the issues that United must deal with.

The ball was given to Messi by Ashley Young, who has been an issue all season long. While Luke Shaw has been among United’s better performers this season at left-back, the United captain has really struggled on the other side. His crossing has been especially poor and the Englishman has failed to reach the heights of the last campaign. 19-year old Diogo Dalot has shown promising signs, but leaves much to be desired on the defensive side of the role.

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Solskjaer rarely trusts him to play right-back in a back four, although the Portuguese teenager has performed well in a more advanced role on the right side. Fullbacks have become increasingly important in the modern game as key pieces to the attack and defense, and an investment is certainly needed at right back. Aaron Wan-Bissaka is one name that instantly jumps to mind; he has impressed in the Premier League for over a season for Crystal Palace and could easily fit in as a part of this young, athletic team that Solskjaer is starting to build.

After Messi won the ball off Young, he pulled off the cheekiest of nutmegs on Fred. It was reminiscent of that touch against James Milner in the Champions League, only this time he followed it up with a goal too. But the real issue for Manchester United was how easy it was for Messi to completely eliminate Fred, playing as the shield in front of the defense, from the game.

Solskjaer has often preferred a to play with a three man-midfield through his tenure as United boss, with one holding back deeper than the other two. His first choice trio is Matic-Herrera-Pogba, and the three complement each other well, but Matic is getting up there in age and has clearly lost a step from his Chelsea days. Furthermore, Herrera looks to be on the way out, with multiple reports saying he has already agreed on a deal with French giants PSG.

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