Villarreal vs Manchester United LIVE: Champions League result, final score and reaction tonight
Michael Carrick’s first game in charge sees United advance to the UCL knockout stages
Michael Carrick’s first game in charge of Manchester United saw the caretaker boss lead the club into the last 16 of the Champions League on Tuesday night, his players securing a 2-0 win at Villarreal.
Former United midfielder Carrick replaced Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the dugout following the Norwegian’s sacking on Sunday, and the team’s performance here was similar to many showings under their now-ex-coach; United were disjointed for much of the game, before Cristiano Ronaldo did what he has done so many times this season by scoring late on to break the deadlock. Jadon Sancho then netted his first goal in a United shirt in the final minute, sealing the victory and securing the Red Devils a spot in the knockout stages of the competition.
It is unclear how long Carrick will be in charge of United, with reports suggesting that the club’s hierarchy could appoint a different interim coach until the end of the season before seeking a permanent successor to Solskjaer. Mauricio Pochettino has been linked to United, with our own Melissa Reddy reporting that the PSG boss could leave his current side to move to Old Trafford before next summer. However, Pochettino insisted on Tuesday evening that he is “so happy” in Paris. Follow all the fallout from United’s win against Villarreal.
Villarreal vs Man Utd: Man Utd struggling on the road
Manchester United have only won seven of their last 24 away Champions League matches with six draws and 11 defeats. They are winless in their last four on the road (one draw, three losses) since a 2-1 win at Paris St-Germain in October 2020.
Villarreal vs Man Utd: Maguire on Solskjaer’s sacking
Manchester United captain Harry Maguire was asked whether the players needed to take any responsibility for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s sacking after their poor performances have seen United lose their last three games. He replied:
Of course, the players need to take responsibility for everything, on and off the football field. We are the ones that cross over the white line. We know it’s football, like I say we were in this together. We were a group, the management and the players.
“Ultimately the manager has paid the price and we’re all so disappointed for that but we take huge responsibility. We haven’t been good enough. We know that individually, collectively, as a team, as players.
“We spoke about that and now we’ve got to look forward and make sure we get this club back to where it was in the last two years. Obviously the last few months have been nowhere near good enough and like I said the players have huge responsibility for that as well."
Villarreal vs Man Utd: PSG in contact with Zinedine Zidane as Manchester United consider Mauricio Pochettino
Paris Saint-Germain have been in contact with Zinedine Zidane and coaches including Antonio Conte in the last few months in preparation for the possibility of losing Mauricio Pochettino to Manchester United before the end of the season.
Pochettino, who was appointed by PSG in January, has leapt to the top of United’s list of targets following the sacking of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer after it was made clear to them that he would be interested in making the deal happen and soon.
PSG in contact with Zinedine Zidane as Manchester United consider Mauricio Pochettino
PSG’s Qatari owners have kept their options open after failing to win the French title last year and have been preparing for the possible departure of manager Mauricio Pochettino
Villarreal vs Man Utd: Villarreal looking for first win vs English teams
Manchester United have failed to keep a clean sheet in the Champions League this season, shipping seven goals in their four games but Villarreal have never beaten an English club in the Champions League in 11 attempts with six draws and five defeats.
Will tonight be the night they get their first win?
Villarreal vs Man Utd: Emery talks United
Villarreal head coach Unai Emery says he expects a tough test from Manchester United despite their poor run of form and feels they will raise their standards in Europe. The former Arsenal boss said:
They will find an extra motivation as it’s the Champions League. We know they are a strong team,
"They need to win and I don’t think there will be many changes. Perhaps certain tactical ones will be made, but we must be prepared to play against Cristiano Ronaldo, [Harry] Maguire, Bruno Fernandes, [David] De Gea and all the other great players that United has."
Villarreal vs Man Utd: United arrive st the ground
Tonight’s clash will be taking place at the Estadio de la Ceramica in Spain and qualification for the Champions League knockout satges is at stake.
Manchester United’s players have been checking out the pitch including Donny van de Beek who starts this evening following his goal against Watford at the weekend.
Villarreal vs Man Utd: Carrick on Villarreal
Less than 45 minutes until kick off in Spain where Manchester United will be hoping to qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League. Speaking of their opponents tonight, interim boss Michael Carrick had this to say about Villarreal:
"They’re a very good team, very well-organised, very well-coached. Two different games in some ways. In the [Europa League] final I thought we did really well, stopped them for long periods but we didn’t have a cutting edge in the final third and that hurts when you get so close but we weren’t good enoughon the night to finish it off.
“The first game [this season], it was pretty much what we expected. They’re a team that play the ball well, have got some nice connections over the pitch, good technical players who can pass the ball and keep the ball off you at times as well as speed and penetration on the last line, so for them it’s a good mix, a good balance.
“So we respect that, yes, we played them a couple of times so we know each other a bit better, so we go there with a plan to go out on to the pitch and we really look forward to the game. It’s a big game for both teams at this stage of the competition, that goes without saying but one that we go there and really look forward to.”
Villarreal vs Man Utd: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was by no means Manchester United’s only problem
When Jose Mourinho’s scorched-earth series was finally canned by Manchester United and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was given caretaker charge of the wheel, a select group of journalists had an off-record audience with Ed Woodward.
Naturally, an enquiry was made over the club’s big picture for the managerial position and their confidence over landing primary target Mauricio Pochettino, then at Tottenham, in the summer.
United’s executive vice-chairman is understood to have sniggered as he retorted: “You all think we want him, but that would be the easy choice. Too easy. It’s Julian Nagelsmann we like.”
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was by no means Manchester United’s only problem
While the Norwegian was part of the problem, those above him have proven to be the real issue at Old Trafford
Villarreal vs Man Utd: Stats and facts
This is Villarreal’s sixth Champions League match against Manchester United. The Yellow Submarine are winless in all five previous meetings with four draws and just on defeat.
Since losing 2-1 to Manchester United in September, Villarreal have won each of their last two Champions League games, beating Young Boys twice. They are looking to win three consecutive matches in the competition for the very first time.
Villarreal vs Man Utd: More from Michael Carrick
At his first press conference since taking over from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Michael Carrick says his job is to bring positive results to the club for players and the fans. He said:
"The biggest thing for the fans and for us is the results. I can sit here and say all sorts of different things and I would be speaking the truth about the training and how much we want to do well for this club. Honestly, right now, sitting here I don’t think I can say so much, it’s about what we do in the next day, over the next few days and getting the right results, how we perform on the pitch, how we carry ourselves, how we behave.
“There’s a responsibility we have playing for this club which is not at many other clubs and that’s something that we embrace and got to respect massively all the time I’ve been at this club. That’s what I expect for the players for sure."
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