November 24, 2024

Matt Le Tissier claims Man United were made to pay for being too defensive in draw with Southampton

Matt Le Tissier #MattLeTissier

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Southampton legend Matt Le Tissier believes Manchester United were punished for being too negative whilst ahead against his former side on Monday evening. 

A late strike from Saints substitute Michael Obafemi snatched a point for the visitors at Old Trafford, as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side dropped two points in the race for a top-four finish. 

It looked as though first-half strikes by Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial – which cancelled out Stuart Armstrong’s opener – would be enough to take United to third but the late goal means United stay in fifth with three matches to go. 

Matt Le Tissier believes Manchester United were too negative after taking the lead on Monday

Matt Le Tissier believes Manchester United were too negative after taking the lead on Monday

Michael Obafemi netted a last-minute equaliser for Southampton at Old Trafford on Monday

Michael Obafemi netted a last-minute equaliser for Southampton at Old Trafford on Monday

The two dropped points are a blow for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's hopes of a top-four finish

The two dropped points are a blow for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s hopes of a top-four finish

‘I thought they [Manchester United] sat back a little bit at 2-1,’ Le Tissier told Sky Sports. 

‘The Manchester United of years gone by would have really gone for the kill at 2-1. 

‘You have to give credit to Southampton, but United teams of the past wouldn’t have let them come at you.’

On the wider ramifications in the race for Champions League qualification, Le Tissier highlighted what he believes will be the pivotal match in the run-in. 

Marcus Rashford had earlier scored for the hosts but they couldn't hold on for three points

Marcus Rashford had earlier scored for the hosts but they couldn’t hold on for three points

‘The big one that stands out for me is Manchester United against Leicester,’ he says of the final-day clash on July 26. 

‘That could be an absolute barnstormer of a game. What a football match that is going to be.’

Fellow Sky Sports pundit and former Juventus, Chelsea and England women’s striker Eni Aluko believed that Southampton were fully deserving of their point at Old Trafford. 

Saints striker Obafemi was a late substitute but made an immediate impact in the late stages

Saints striker Obafemi was a late substitute but made an immediate impact in the late stages

‘Southampton had 52 per cent possession at Old Trafford and that’s no mean feat,’ Aluko said. 

‘They had a good spell of possession towards the end of the game and they controlled the game. 

‘Maybe Manchester United assumed the game was over, you can see how annoyed Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was at the end there because they’ve missed a big opportunity to go third.’

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