The Red Devils battled swirling wind and rain in Belgium – but their supervisor says the weather was not the only thing hindering their performance.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has criticised the ball used in Manchester United’s Europa League draw with Club Brugge.
The Red Devils came from behind to secure a 1-1 draw in the first leg of the last-32 tie in Belgium, with Anthony Martial’s 14th goal of the season cancelling out an early attack by Bonaventure Dennis.
The match was played in difficult conditions, with high winds, rain and even hail swirling around the Jan Breydel Stadium.
Solskjaer, therefore, was pretty satisfied to come away with a draw, though he believed it was not only the weather that hindered their screen.
“It was a challenging game against a well-organised team in tough conditions,” he told reporters following the match.
“I don’t believe it was among the greatest games that anybody’s seen. A bit cluttered, concentration-wise, but the terms with pitch and the ball make it challenging. You may ask any of the players; this ball doesn’t help if you need to play soccer.”
When asked to elaborate on his comment about the ball, Solskjaer added:”It is just different and hard to play, you can get one and try. But it’s the exact same for both teams. The conditions were not fine; the wind and the rain.
“But anyhow, strange goals for both groups. Their throw-in and long kick right through the center. A lack of concentration from there.”
Solskjaer made six changes to the side that won in Chelsea on Monday, with the likes of David de Gea, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, and Bruno Fernandes all dropping to the bench.
Having a battle against Watford to come in the Premier League on Sunday, the Norwegian felt he had little choice but to use his squad.
“Obviously, a Monday night game and then Thursday, there is less recovery and it is a game on Sunday. So you have got to consider the bigger picture and not 1 game,” he added.
“We made the choices we made and we got a draw, a score draw. So they have got to come to Old Trafford, score and if they need a draw they should score several. So we are looking forward to Thursday.”
