MAN UNITED 0, PSV EINDHOVEN 0
Manchester United’s lack of firepower is threatening a Champions League exit at the group stage.
The goalless draw against PSV Eindhoven – the fourth 0-0 draw in the last seven games – leaves the Reds teetering on the edge of early elimination.
And it is not inconceivable that Louis van Gaal’s side will have to win in Germany at VfL Wolfsburg in their last group game to proceed to the knockout phase.
It was a massively disappointing night for United, who would have qualified had they won, as PSV again proved their Achilles heel as they have taken four points off them.
They huffed and puffed for 90 minutes and rarely looked like finding a route to goal against a well organised Dutch side.
And that was something reinforced by captain Wayne Rooney who said: “We are not ruthless enough – we have to score more goals as a team.
“They were able to nearly hit us on the break a few times, a learning curve, but we cannot go on saying that. We have to change these games into victories.”
Van Gaal also admitted it was a “disappointing” night conceding they might have to win in Germany to go further in the competition.
He described the first-half performance as “average” and, despite making changes, explained it did not improve.
Despite being below par, van Gaal still thought United had chances to have won the game.
He said: “Jesse Lingard had a chance in the second half and we could have scored at least three goals. They were not the most difficult chances, but we didn’t score.
“Yet in the next game, we might score a goal out if nothing.”
But there was a steely determination when asked if his side can win in Germany.
“We won at home against Wolfsburg so why can’t we win away,” he said.
Rooney and Anthony Martial both returned after illness and injury to hopefully provide United the firepower to propel the Reds to victory which would guarantee a placed in the knockout phase.
They were two of four changes from the side that won at Watford on Saturday as Matteo Darmian and Marcos Rojo also returned.
Phil Jones and Ander Herrera were ruled out through injury while Ashley Young and Juan Mata dropped down to the bench.
PSV were making their third visit to Old Trafford and, having lost on their previous two, were seeking to avoid an unwanted hat trick of defeats.
The stands were lit up in the seventh minute as fans switched on their mobiles, a tribute to mark the 10th anniversary of the death of Reds’ legend No 7 George Best.
If the great man was looking down on this match, there was precious little to excite in the opening stages.
Bastian Schweinsteiger and Memphis Depay both had shots at goal in the opening quarter of an hour, but each flew straight at keeper Jeroen Zoet.
United’s best opening came an half an hour when Daley Blind’s corner was met by Morgan Schneiderlin but his weakly hit shot from six yards was saved on the line by Zoet.
PSV then had a chance to take the lead when Luuk de Jong cut the ball back to Jorrit Henrix whose shot was well saved by David de Gea.
United had another great chance to take the lead when Jesse Lingard’s strike was blocked but deflected to Martial whose shot was blocked by the legs of Zoet.
A slip by Zoet when dealing with a back pass almost let in Rooney, but the keeper managed to scramble the ball to safety with the striker ready to pounce.
United had a great chance to break the deadlock in stoppage time when Depay set up Martial whose fiercely struck angled shot was well kept out by Zoet.
And not long after the restart Martial turned provider with a cross that Lingard met but his glancing header flew narrowly wide.
There was a double change from United just short of the hour when Schweinsteiger and Depay were replaced by Marouane Fellaini and Young while Juan Mata was thrown on late in the game in pursuit of a match-winning goal.
PSV were becoming increasingly dangerous on the counter with Davy Propper having a couple of decent strikes at goal, the latter stinging the palms of de Gea.
United ought to have taken the lead in the 73rd minute when substitute Ashley Young cut the ball back to Lingard who blazed over from 10 yards when he ought to have hit the target.
And PSV coach Phillip Cocu later admitted that the United fans becoming increasingly disgruntled as the game progressed was a help to his side.
That manifested itself at the final whistle when they left the field to a chorus of boos.