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Setelah mewujudkan comeback fantastis di derbi pekan sebelumnya, United justru kendur dan kalah dari tim juru kunci West Brom di Old Trafford. OPINI KRIS VOAKES PENYUSUN ADHE MAKAYASA Untuk kali kedua dalam sepekan, Manchester United membuat suporternya sulit berkata-kata. Jika pekan sebelumnya mereka menampilkan comeback luar biasa untuk menjegal perayaan juara Manchester City , justru melawan West Bromwich Albion pada Minggu (15/4) malam WIB tadi mereka pula yang mengantarkan gelar tersebut kepada sang tetangga. Kekalahan 1-0 dari West Brom, yang difavoritkan turun kasta ke Liga Championship, bertolak belakang dari penampilan mereka di pekan sebelumnya dan itu menjadi penegas betapa sulitnya buat United untuk mengejar City.
Ini mungkin menjadi kali pertama bagi United menelan kekalahan di Old Trafford selain dari City selama periode dua tahun kepemimpinan Jose Mourinho, namun performa mereka yang buruk bukan barang baru. Terhitung sudah ada banyak laga dalam beberapa musim terakhir ini, entah itu bersama Mourinho atay Louis van Gaal selaku pendahulunya, yang isi kisahnya sama.
Di pertandingan melawan West Brom semalam, United terlalu lama bermain steril. Mereka menyentuh bola di area West Brom hanya enam kali di babak pertama, dan di babak kedua mereka kurang berbahaya. Permainan mereka terlalu sering buntu. Sedangkan pekan sebelumnya mereka menghabiskan 45 menit kedua untuk mengobrak-abrik Manchester City dengan cara ini dan itu, namun tujuh hari berselang mereka terlihat tidak tahu bagaimana caranya untuk menembus pertahanan tim lawan yang jauh lebih lemah. Terkait
United bisa saja tertinggal di babak pertama, itu setelah gelandang jangkar West Brom Jake Livermore dibiarkan menguji David de Gea lewat sepakan mendatarnya. Hal ini menggambarkan banyak hal, mengingat Livermore hanya memiliki dua tendangan ke gawang di sepanjang musim, dan dua-duanya itu melawan United.
Tim tuan rumah juga harusnya dapat penalti menyusul pelanggaran Craig Dawson kepada Ander Herrera, namun wasit Paul Tierney tidak mengindahkannya. Lebih dari itu, mereka tidak bisa berbuat banyak.
Paul Pogba, yang menjadi pahlawan pekan lalu lewat dua golnya, kembali ke tipe permainannya pada 2018 ini. Gelandang asal Prancis itu tidak mampu menginspirasi timnya di babak pertama dan hal yang sama juga berlaku untuk gelandang lainnya. Permainan United pun menjadi lebih sempit dan bisa ditebak.
Sekalipun Herrera sudah digantikan oleh Jesse Lingard di babak pertama, kiper West Brom Ben Foster tetap tidak sibuk. Anthony Martial yang dimasukkan menggantikan Pogba juga tidak mampu mendongkrak permainan timnya, sebagaimana malam tadi merupakan penampilan pertamanya sejak kemenangan di Piala FA melawan Brighton empat pekan lalu.
Di pertandingan semalam Romelu Lukaku sempat memiliki satu peluang bagus di babak kedua namun upayanya bisa dimentahkan oleh Foster, tapi selebihnya mereka tidak melakukan tekanan signifikan hingga akhirnya West Brom menghukum tuan rumah.
Berawal dari sepak pojok Chris Brunt dari sisi kiri, dan ketika Nemanja Matic gagal menghalaunya, Jay Rodriguez langsung mengonversinya menjadi gol. Ketika itu terjadi, seperti tidak ada hal yang mengejutkan.
Selang seminggu setelah menjegal upaya juara dari rivalnya, United kalah di kandang sendiri dari klub terbawah. Ini benar-benar inkonsistensi yang telah merusak kemajuan mereka musim ini.
Dan ketika pertandingan memasuki periode akhir, Old Trafford lantas kosong dengan cepat. Setelah terhindar dari rasa malu melihat City merayakan gelar juara di depan mereka pada pekan lalu, tidak banyak yang tahan melihat pemain idolanya menyerahkan trofi tersebut dengan cara yang begitu lembut.
“Manchester City, kami telah memenangkan liga untuk Anda,” teriak suporter West Brom di akhir laga namun, faktanya, United melakukan kesalahan sendiri dan mereka pantas disalahkan. Artikel dilanjutkan di bawah ini
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Manchester United fans were left furious after watching their side fall to defeat against bottom of the table West Bromwich Albion.
After stopping Manchester City winning the league against them in the Manchester derby Jose Mourinho's side handed it to Pep Guardiola's team on a plate by losing to West Brom.
Romleu Lukaku's second half header that was saved by Ben Foster was United's only shot on target throughout the entire game and the fans were embarrassed as the players produced another dull performance.
Mourinho said United deserved to be punished after complicating the game and not only did the fans have to endure defeat against a team who are bottom of the table but in doing so they gifted City the league.
Embarrassing.
Mourinho deserves the blame.
Mourinho out brigade in full force.
Awful.
Disgrace.
No desire.
Story of United's season.
Gutless.
No passion.
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Manchester United's season could be looked at in two ways.
The first? Positively. If The Red Devils finish second and win the FA Cup then there's been a significant improvement on last season.
The second? Negatively. To spend as much as they did and still finish so far behind rivals Manchester City, and get knocked out of the Champions League last-16, is a bitter disappointment.
In either scenario the outcome remains the same - United must do better.
Other than finding a new manager, one sure-fire way of improving things is to invest in some new stars.
In the past two seasons, United have spent close to £150million per summer - and they could go close to that figure once again.
Here are five targets who would undoubtedly boost United's chances of challenging City for the Premier League title next season.
Danny Rose
(Image: Julian Finney/Getty Images)
The left-back position is a concern for United. As much as United fans would love Luke Shaw to play regularly, it seems like it just won't happen for the 22-year-old, at least not under Mourinho.
Ashley Young has filled in this season, and while his form recently earned him an England call up he still can't be regarded as a full-time United left-back of the future.
And Matteo Darmian and Daley Blind have all but been sold already.
Danny Rose, while struggling with injuries this season, has shown he is more than capable of being a world class full-back.
He's also previously stated his desire to play up north.
Gareth Bale
(Image: REX/Shutterstock)
Gareth Bale is a name that is constantly linked with United, but its for good reason.Despite his fitness woes, the Welshman is a strong, fast and skillful winger.
The 28-year-old would provide the Red Devils with much needed width, the kind Mourinho was after with Ivan Perisic last summer.
Bale's crossing would also be well received from Romelu Lukaku.
Toby Alderweireld
(Image: Action Images via Reuters)
Despite United boasting the second best defence in the league there still remains an err of vulnerability with the likes of Phil Jones and Chris Smalling.
Eric Bailly has proven himself a worthy centre-back while Victor Lindelof still needs time to iron out his game.
Toby Alderweireld is arguably the Premier League's best defender and would surely patch up any lingering doubts United's defence may have.
At 29, the Belgian would certainly bolster United's defence whilst the likes of Lindelof progress.
Toni Kroos
(Image: AFP)
Toni Kroos was heavily linked to United before joining Real. The German has since gone on to win a La Liga title and two Champions Leagues with the Spanish giants.
Having pretty much achieved everything in Spain, England could provide the midfielder with one last challenge.
His passing and assuredness in midfield is exactly what United need in the spine of their team.
Who wouldn't want a World Cup winner?
Thiago Alcantara
(Image: REUTERS)
Like Kroos, Thiago came close to joining United. But also like the Real Madrid star the midfielder opted for elsewhere.
The Spaniard is an extremely talented central midfielder and has only been held back by injuries in recent seasons.
His flair alongside Pogba would cause oppositions no end of problems.
