Olympiakos 2-0 Manchester United - Five talking points

David Moyes

Moyes cannot count on the backing of his team

Unfortunately, there isn’t a ton of evidence to suggest that this bunch of players were ever truly behind Moyes in the first place due to legitimate concerns over the Scot’s calibre, ability and suitability for the position of Sir Alex Ferguson’s successor. It’s becoming seemingly routine for United to coast through games whatever the scoreline, seemingly devoid of any urgency or confidence and with a newly soft underbelly now in full view, ripe for probing.

Moyes’ job description isn’t just about picking the team, it’s about inspiring them, leading them and giving them a shot in the arm when he feels that they aren’t doing themselves or their club justice; all we’ve seen this season is evidence of rallying cries falling on deaf ears and tactical plans that no player appears comfortable with. Each post-match interview with player and manager speaks of a desire to turn things around, but there has been no evidence to support their claims.

Put simply, it’s a United front in name only, and when the lines of communication between manager and his charges are cut so severely, there is usually only one outcome. Still, when the overriding image from a game is a beleaguered manager slouching in his chair looking more nauseous than apoplectic, perhaps it’s little wonder that his charges are so listless.

Olympiakos will relish the return leg

Michel, manager of the Greek champions was quick to downplay his team’s chances ahead of the second half of this tie at Old Trafford, but the reality is that even he, privately at least, must fancy his chances of advancing to the quarter finals after this display. If his team were hampered by the sale of leading goalscorer Konstantinos Mitroglou then it didn’t show, as they out-worked, over-powered and out-shone United in almost every department. Of course, the declining power and confidence of the visitors helped, but Olympiakos took to their task with impressive gusto and deserved their victory. All of the evidence was in their opening goal, a slice of pure instinct from Alejandro Dominguez in diverting Giannis Maniatis’ effort beyond David De Gea’s reach. When the effort is present, moments such as these are all the more likely to happen.

Old Trafford’s history and heritage will be enough to make the Greek champions pause, but on this basis it will hold little fear for a side guaranteed chances if they if they repeat this level of effort. On paper, the Spaniard was humble in victory as almost any manager would be in his shoes, but reality suggests that halting United from the sort of victory that would guarantee their own progress to the quarter finals may not be quite as difficult as he makes out.

Moyes’ days are numbered

This is not some idle threat, more of a considered opinion at the state of Manchester United under the current manager’s stewardship. At present, the club are underperforming, failing in all competitions and are in possession of a group of players that have a clear lack of belief in the man charged with leading them. The board, based on their silence, do not wish to sack him and Sir Alex Ferguson’s words on the Old Trafford pitch about supporting his successor are a stick with which to beat back the more vocal of Moyes’ detractors, but the reality is that United are hurtling closer towards the Scot’s exit with each new low. Home derbies against both Liverpool and Manchester City are on the horizon; if the expected thrashings take place at the hands of those most hated rivals on our own hallowed turf, then match-going fans that have thus far held their tongues will surely break their silence. Once the support of the players and the fans has gone, any way back for David Moyes will be near-impossible to navigate.

But let’s not suggest that this is a universally positive outcome for the club, to sack a manager with three months of the season still to play. It’s negative on every single level and a situation that no one connected with the club should have hoped for in the wake of Ferguson’s retirement, regardless of their feeling on Moyes’ appointment. But the stark reality is that if this situation deteriorates further, then Manchester United simply must act decisively and ruthlessly. If they fail to, there’s more than just one season of failure at stake.