Manchester United lost 1-0 to Juventus in the Champions League at Old Trafford tonight.
Jose Mourinho’s side were completely outclassed in the first half by a tactically and technically superior Juve side, who scored the only goal of the game in the 17th minute when striker Paulo Dybala was left unmarked to slot home from close range.
Manchester United did improve slightly in the second half but were unable to create any clear-cut chances against Max Allegri’s classy outfit, with Paul Pogba’s curling left-foot shot from the edge of the box that hit the post being the closest the home side came to getting on the scoresheet.
Former United defender Phil Neville admitted afterward that Juventus had been the better team throughout and that there was clearly a massive gulf in class between the two sides.
“Juventus were in control the whole game. Never at any moment did they lose their composure and class,” Neville told the BBC radio 5 live.
“United huffed and puffed and had half chances from Paul Pogba. There was a gulf in class and Juventus were the better side.
“Jose Mourinho is building his team. He wanted two centre-backs in the summer and one player he bought [Lindelof] was excellent tonight.
“But you need quality and magic in the final third.They didn’t get service into the box and when they did, they didn’t do anything with it.”
It is now just one win in their last seven games for Mourinho’s side, although Valencia drawing away to Young Boys earlier at least means they remain in with a decent chance of finishing second in Group H and progressing to the knockout phase of the Champions League.