Published: October 1, 2021 3:39 pm
Last Updated: October 1, 2021 3:44 pm
Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has spoken out over Donny van de Beek’s situation at the club, after the midfielder made clear his frustrations with not being introduced off the bench late in the club’s meeting with Villarreal.
CR7 makes the difference
Solskjaer’s men were of course back in action a little less than 48 hours ago
The Red Devils welcomed La Liga outfit Villarreal to Old Trafford, eyeing revenge after missing out on Europa League glory at the hands of Unai Emery and co. just this past May.
And, when all was said and done in Manchester, secure revenge, and keep their Champions League Last-16 hopes alive in the process, is precisely what United managed.
After going a goal down early in the 2nd-half when Paco Alcacer slotted home from close range, the hosts levelled things up courtesy of an Alex Telles stunner on the hour mark:
What a time to score your first Man Utd goal!
Alex Telles with a clean strike on the volley 💥#UCL pic.twitter.com/HI6ouM0NYi
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) September 29, 2021
Then, as if written in the stars, a last-gasp winner was provided by none other than Mr. Champions League himself, Cristiano Ronaldo.
After latching onto substitute Jesse Lingard’s clever layoff, the Portuguese veteran made no mistake in slotting beyond Geronimo Rulli, sparking raucous celebrations around Old Trafford:
CRISTIANO RONALDO WINS IT LATE FOR MAN UTD!
Listen to that Old Trafford roar 😍
Big players deliver in big moments.#UCL pic.twitter.com/7rcbEJzUQt
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) September 29, 2021
VDB fumes
As outlined above, however, on the back of the action coming to a close in Manchester on Wednesday, joining Ronaldo in the headlines for an altogether less positive reason was teammate Donny van de Beek.
Big-money midfielder van de Beek has of course endured another frustrating couple of months to open the campaign, restricted to just a solitary start across all competitions.
In turn, upon the action versus Villarreal entering the closing stages, and United still desperately searching for a goal, the Dutchman was not shy in making clear his desire to get on the pitch.
After again being ignored by boss Solskjaer, though, VDB allowed his frustrations to get the better of him:
The 24-year-old was spotted both throwing his bib on the ground and launching chewing gum at the home dug-out at Old Trafford, as Jesse Lingard and Fred prepared to enter the fray:
“Donny van de Beek will look for assurances of where he stands at Manchester United after his frustration at not playing boiled over during the Champions League victory against Villarreal,” reports @mcgrathmike. https://t.co/90wXW7wVec
— Telegraph Football (@TeleFootball) September 30, 2021
‘Not just Donny…’
In turn, speaking during his pre-match press conference ahead of United’s meeting with Everton this weekend, it came as little surprise when the subject of van de Beek’s frustrations was put to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
The Red Devils boss, though, was keen to play down the subject, assuring that his midfield outcast’s outburst was ‘understandable’:
‘I manage a squad full of international footballers, competitive footballers who want to make a difference, want to play. They all want to be on the pitch, of course they do.’
‘Donny was ready to come on [against Villarreal], as all the players should be. I’ve probably been a substitute more than anyone in this club and you have to be ready all the time.’
‘I’ve not been very happy a few times, but that’s just a decision the manager makes. Alex (Telles) was coming off as a left-back and Fred did that job well, so I understand the frustration.’
‘Every player is keen to play. That’s got to be built into energy and some determination for when you get on and then show me. That is not just Donny, that is all the players.’
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 12: Donny van de Beek of Manchester United in action during a pre-season friendly match between Aston Villa and Manchester United at Villa Park on September 12, 2020 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Matthew Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images)
Solskjaer continued:
‘If we’re going to be successful together, we know that we need a positive energy.’
‘We can’t have any sulkers, but Donny has never affected his team-mates negatively.’
‘As soon as I see players affecting the team negatively that’s a different scenario and I’ll probably be a little bit firmer.’
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer understands Donny van de Beek’s frustration due to a lack of minutes but insists Manchester United “can’t have any sulkers”.
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) October 1, 2021
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Premier League table
| # | Team | MP | D | P |
| 1 | Liverpool FC | 6 | 11 | 14 |
| 2 | Manchester City | 6 | 11 | 13 |
| 3 | Chelsea FC | 6 | 10 | 13 |
| 4 | Manchester United | 6 | 8 | 13 |
| 5 | Everton FC | 6 | 5 | 13 |
| 6 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 6 | 3 | 13 |
| 7 | West Ham United | 6 | 5 | 11 |
| 8 | Aston Villa | 6 | 2 | 10 |
| 9 | Brentford FC | 6 | 3 | 9 |
| 10 | Arsenal FC | 6 | -5 | 9 |
| 11 | Tottenham Hotspur | 6 | -5 | 9 |
| 12 | Watford FC | 6 | -2 | 7 |
| 13 | Leicester City | 6 | -3 | 7 |
| 14 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 6 | -2 | 6 |
| 15 | Crystal Palace | 6 | -3 | 6 |
| 16 | Southampton FC | 6 | -3 | 4 |
| 17 | Newcastle United | 6 | -7 | 3 |
| 18 | Leeds United | 6 | -8 | 3 |
| 19 | Burnley FC | 6 | -6 | 2 |
| 20 | Norwich City | 6 | -14 | 0 |
| Player | Team | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| Antonio, Michail | West Ham United | 5 |
| Salah, Mohamed | Liverpool FC | 5 |
| Vardy, Jamie | Leicester City | 5 |
| Maupay, Neal | Brighton & Hove Albion | 4 |
| Fernandes, Bruno | Manchester United | 4 |
| Sarr, Ismaila | Watford FC | 4 |
| Benrahma, Said | West Ham United | 3 |
| Gray, Demarai | Everton FC | 3 |
| Ronaldo, Cristiano | Manchester United | 3 |
| Lukaku, Romelu | Chelsea FC | 3 |
| Son, Heung Min | Tottenham Hotspur | 3 |
| Mane, Sadio | Liverpool FC | 3 |
| Calvert-Lewin, Dominic | Everton FC | 3 |
| Jota, Diogo | Liverpool FC | 3 |
| Raphinha | Leeds United | 3 |
| Greenwood, Mason | Manchester United | 3 |
| Doucoure, Abdoulaye | Everton FC | 2 |
| Saint-Maximin, Allan | Newcastle United | 2 |
| Jesus, Gabriel | Manchester City | 2 |
| Townsend, Andros | Everton FC | 2 |
| Player | Team | Red Cards | Yellow Cards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pogba, Paul | Manchester United | 0 | 3 |
| Dennis, Emmanuel | Watford FC | 0 | 3 |
| Cooper, Liam | Leeds United | 0 | 3 |
| Etebo, Oghenekaro | Watford FC | 0 | 3 |
| Skipp, Oliver | Tottenham Hotspur | 0 | 3 |
| Antonio, Michail | West Ham United | 0 | 1 |
| Doucoure, Abdoulaye | Everton FC | 0 | 2 |
| Fernandes, Bruno | Manchester United | 0 | 2 |
| Raphinha | Leeds United | 0 | 2 |
| Gallagher, Conor | Crystal Palace | 0 | 2 |
| Alonso, Marcos | Chelsea FC | 0 | 2 |
| Rice, Declan | West Ham United | 0 | 2 |
| Richarlison | Everton FC | 0 | 2 |
| Ritchie, Matt | Newcastle United | 0 | 2 |
| Westwood, Ashley | Burnley FC | 0 | 2 |
| Gudmundsson, Johann | Burnley FC | 0 | 2 |
| Duffy, Shane | Brighton & Hove Albion | 0 | 2 |
| Norgaard, Christian | Brentford FC | 0 | 2 |
| Rudiger, Antonio | Chelsea FC | 0 | 2 |
| Tarkowski, James | Burnley FC | 0 | 2 |
| Player | Team | Assists |
|---|---|---|
| Pogba, Paul | Manchester United | 7 |
| Antonio, Michail | West Ham United | 3 |
| Doucoure, Abdoulaye | Everton FC | 3 |
| Saint-Maximin, Allan | Newcastle United | 3 |
| Jesus, Gabriel | Manchester City | 3 |
| Kovacic, Mateo | Chelsea FC | 3 |
| Salah, Mohamed | Liverpool FC | 2 |
| Benrahma, Said | West Ham United | 2 |
| Townsend, Andros | Everton FC | 2 |
| Ings, Danny | Aston Villa | 2 |
| Toney, Ivan | Brentford FC | 2 |
| Bamford, Patrick | Leeds United | 2 |
| James, Reece | Chelsea FC | 2 |
| Gross, Pascal | Brighton & Hove Albion | 2 |
| King, Joshua | Watford FC | 2 |
| Pereira, Ricardo | Leicester City | 2 |
| Alexander-Arnold, Trent | Liverpool FC | 2 |
| Rice, Declan | West Ham United | 2 |
| Luiz, Douglas | Aston Villa | 2 |
| Vardy, Jamie | Leicester City | 1 |
