Morale at Manchester United is at new low after their latest defeat to Leicester City, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer keeping the players in the away dressing room for 45 minutes
United took the lead at the King Power Stadium on Saturday but still lost 4-2 after a disappointing second half in which they looked ragged and disorganised, gifting a number of chances to the home side.
The Red devils defeat continues a poor run of form that has seen them lose to Young Boys in the Champions League and exit the Carabao Cup at the hands of West Ham.
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They also lost at home to Aston Villa and only played a draw against Everton at Old Trafford – and even almost conceded a late winner – with the defeat against Leicester meaning they have picked up only one point from a possible nine.
United, who spent over £100m in the summer, now face an important run of matches before the next international break as they take on free-scoring Serie A club Atalanta twice, as well as Liverpool, Tottenham and Manchester City.
But, according to The Times, the atmosphere among the team is now ‘at a new low’ and Solskjaer faces a huge challenge to raise the morale of his out-of-form squad.
The players are reported to be completely ‘flat’ after only mustering one win in their last five games in all competitions, with some of the more senior players at the club concerned by the mood at Old Trafford
And Solskjaer has not helped matters, with the Norwegian coach keeping the squad locked in the away dressing room at the King Power Stadium for 45 minutes after the clash as he unloaded on his players.
The post-match debrief was so long that the team bus had to be held with the players waiting for Solskjaer to finish his media duties before leaving Leicester.
United need to work on their poor run of form when Atalanta visit Old Trafford on Wednesday, with defeat giving them a huge mountain to climb if they want to progress to the next stage of the Champions League.
Despite the position United find themselves in, the club’s board are still backing Solskjaer – though the next couple of weeks could be a defining period.