Edinson Cavani came off the bench to cancel Allan Saint-Maximin's opener and rescue a point for Manchester United.
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Manchester United boss Ralf Ragnick felt that his team wasn’t aggressive enough in the 1-1 draw against Newcastle United in the Premier League fixture on Monday. Substitute Edinson Cavani canceled out Allan Saint-Maximin’s opener to rescue a point for the Red Devils. Newcastle played with lots of energy and Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea had to be at his best to earn a point for his team. Although the visitors played much better football in the second half, Newcastle’s speed up front was too hot for them to handle.
? Our interim boss demanded more energy and physicality from United in the wake of last night’s result.#MUFC | #NEWMUN
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) December 28, 2021
In the first half, it was all about the home side as the likes of Saint-Maximin and Joelinton used their physical prowess and pace to good effect. Manchester United’s only chance in the opening half came towards the end, through Mason Greenwood from Bruno Fernandes’ clever free-kick.
The Red Devils had the bulk share of ball possession but the hosts created the better chances from counter-attacks. The opening goal came from one such breakaway move when Raphael Varane was dispossessed in the middle of the park. The ball was quickly delivered to Saint-Maximin on the left, who cut inside, went past Harry Maguire and slotted home past De Gea. Ragnick revealed that he had warned his team about Newcastle’s danger on the break.
“We didn’t play good today, having been down 1-0 after seven minutes we had too many unforced errors, too many giveaways in possession, including the goal,” said Rangnick.
“That didn’t make life any easier for us in this game. It was a massive push for Newcastle. In the first half, we didn’t play good. I’m not happy with the first-half performance.
After the break, Ragnick was quick to make changes as he brought in Cavani and Jadon Sancho in place of Greenwood and Fred. The changes did make a difference as the visitors started to test Newcastle United goalkeeper Martin Dubravka. Marcus Rashford’s long-ranger was parried away by Dubravka before Cavani equalized in the 71st minute.
The Uruguayan got on the end of Diogo Dalot’s cross from the right flank. Although his first attempt was blocked, he slotted home from the rebound to rescue a point for Ragnick’s side.
The German tactician also revealed that the unforced errors and technical errors are the two problems. United conceded the opening goal because of an error from central defender Varane, who was making his first start since October.
The home side could have added more had they been more clinical in front of goal. Newcastle attackers were getting behind the United defence quite often and the positioning of United defenders was questionable at times.
“In the second half we had to take the risk of changing formation and making two subs. It was better in the second half but still not the kind of level we have to play to control games.
“There were two problems, the unforced errors and the technical errors, which were the wrong decisions in possession, this caused transitional moments from Newcastle, they’re good in this area, the other one [problem] was we didn’t play as aggressive without the ball in counter-pressing, that is a question of physicality. In both areas we were not at the level we should have been.”
United were playing their first game in 16 days after a COVID-19 outbreak enforced the postponement of games against Brentford and Brighton, but Ragnick rejected the possibility of using that as an excuse for the poor performance.
“Maybe there might still be some side effects of Covid but I don’t think we should look for excuses,” he said.
“We should analyse and realise in this area [physicality] Newcastle was better than us. We have to raise that level, get better. In three days we’re playing Burnley, this will be physical, we have to get more physical.”
