The Manchester United squad have apparently found their fall-guy for Tuesday’s 3-2 loss to Wolfsburg that resulted in the club’s Champions League exit.
After Louis van Gaal replaced the influential Juan Mata with Nick Powell in the 69th minute, The Times report that the team have been left bemused by the decision.
There is no suggestion that the players have any particular problem with Powell, but rather they are confused by their manager’s move to throw on the inexperienced youngster at such a key moment.
Clearly Manchester United fans also felt perplexed by the change:
Feel for Nick Powell. Wasnt his absurd decision to bring himself on for Mata, and now he’s getting grief for the terrible crime of not…
— Nick (@ManUnitedYouth) December 10, 2015
Hi @stephenfry big fan and you appear really clever, given your intellect, can you shed any light on Mata for Powell please?
— Dav Wilbs (@WillyBlob) December 9, 2015
https://twitter.com/AidanMUFC_/status/674524867337838592
Bringing on Nick Powell for Juan Mata in a game of this importance has to be the coaching move of the season so far… #LVGisagenius
— Julien Laurens (@LaurensJulien) December 8, 2015
https://twitter.com/theunitedmanc/status/674345887020265472
