Villarreal vs Manchester United LIVE: Champions League result, final score and reaction tonight
Michael Carrick’s first game in charge sees United advance to the UCL knockout stages
Michael Carrick’s first game in charge of Manchester United saw the caretaker boss lead the club into the last 16 of the Champions League on Tuesday night, his players securing a 2-0 win at Villarreal.
Former United midfielder Carrick replaced Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the dugout following the Norwegian’s sacking on Sunday, and the team’s performance here was similar to many showings under their now-ex-coach; United were disjointed for much of the game, before Cristiano Ronaldo did what he has done so many times this season by scoring late on to break the deadlock. Jadon Sancho then netted his first goal in a United shirt in the final minute, sealing the victory and securing the Red Devils a spot in the knockout stages of the competition.
It is unclear how long Carrick will be in charge of United, with reports suggesting that the club’s hierarchy could appoint a different interim coach until the end of the season before seeking a permanent successor to Solskjaer. Mauricio Pochettino has been linked to United, with our own Melissa Reddy reporting that the PSG boss could leave his current side to move to Old Trafford before next summer. However, Pochettino insisted on Tuesday evening that he is “so happy” in Paris. Follow all the fallout from United’s win against Villarreal.
PSG in contact with Zinedine Zidane as Manchester United consider Mauricio Pochettino
Mauricio Pochettino insists he is ‘so happy’ at PSG amid Manchester United interest
Paul Scholes: Michael Carrick and Manchester United coaching staff ‘all should have gone’ with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
The fact that Manchester United don’t have someone lined up to replace Solskjaer speaks volumes
Villarreal 0-0 Man Utd
Some brief in-game reading for you: Mauricio Pochettino has spoken about reports that he could become Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s permanent successor at Man United.
“I’m happy in Paris,” the Argentine said at a press conference this evening. “I know the city well both as a player and a coach, I have always lived this type of situation.
“Things happen and it’s not my responsibility. What I’m going to say if you ask me is that I’m happy in Paris.”
More from Poch here:
Mauricio Pochettino insists he’s ‘happy’ at PSG amid Manchester United interest
The Argentine is understood to be interested in returning to the Premier League
Villarreal 0 - 0 Man Utd
3 mins: Cristiano Ronaldo has started off on the left side with Anthony Martial playing through the centre as the number nine for Manchester United.
Yeremy Pino is dispossessed by Alex Telles who knocks the ball up to Martial. He drives towards the box and is taken out by Pino sprinting back to win the ball.
Villarreal 0 - 0 Man Utd
Kick off: Finally, more than five minutes later than scheduled, Donny van de Beek gets the ball rolling for the visitors.
Remember, victory for Man Utd will secure them a place in the knockout stages.
Villarreal 0 - 0 Man Utd
While we wait...
Paul Scholes has said Michael Carrick and his staff should not be at Manchester United following Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s sacking as head coach.
“It’s the same people running the team, the same people given massive responsibility every week to put that team on the pitch,” Scholes told BT Sport this evening.
“Arguably it’s more Kieran McKenna and Michael Carrick who’ve been preparing the team. Ole gave them that responsibility, so how that changes now I don’t know.
“I’d be almost embarrassed being the staff now, after what happened to Ole. I think they all should have gone.”
Read all that Scholes had to say:
Paul Scholes: Michael Carrick and Man United coaching staff ‘all should have gone’
Scholes’ former United teammate Carrick is acting as caretaker boss at the club
Villarreal 0 - 0 Man Utd
Manchester United’s Champions League campaign so far has been full of drama, excitement and late goals. There’s a delay whilst the referee resolves a problem with one of his communication devices.
The players are out on the pitch, passing balls around to stay warm.
Villarreal vs Man Utd
Here come the teams. This is Manchester United’s biggest Champions League game of the season, win and they’re into the last-16, lose and they’re on the verge of getting kicked out of the competition.
Which Manchester United will turn up? Can they earn a first victory for interim boss Michael Carrick? Lets find out, kick off is next...
Villarreal vs Man Utd: Emery expecting a reaction from Man Utd
Villarreal head coach Unai Emery expects a reaction from the Manchester United players after the sacking of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Emery told a news conference on Monday:
When there’s a coaching change, there’s a reaction one way or another,
“The focus will be more on the players than on the bench. The players know, even though they are professional and must always deliver, that they have to show their faces - for Manchester United, for the coach that left and the one that has arrived or will come.
“As a coach, you don’t welcome the news that a colleague has lost his job. I’ve faced Solskjaer several times and, above all, I value him as a great person.”
Villarreal vs Man Utd: Manchester United’s Ole Gunnar Solskjaer mistake leaves them behind their rivals and back where they started
When Cristiano Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes were away with Portugal last week, the two naturally discussed Manchester United at length. Both liked Ole Gunnar Solskjaer but neither felt he was up to it. That feeling had spread around the entire dressing room.
Outgoing executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward was well aware of this. It was why there was greater pressure on Solskjaer going into the Watford game, and a sense of unease.
Still, nobody expected it to get as bad as that at Vicarage Road. Then again, that has been the story of the modern Manchester United, and particularly Solskjaer’s time. They have frequently been blindsided by developments, due to bad decisions.
Manchester United’s Ole Gunnar Solskjaer mistake leaves them back where they started
The club needlessly gave Solskjaer the permanent job only for him to prove time and again he wasn’t capable of doing it
Villarreal vs Man Utd: Villarreal unbeaten in three matches
Unai Emery’s Villarreal currently sit 12th in La Liga, but are unbeaten in their last three games. That defeat came on the 30th October when Valencia beat them 2-0 in the league.
They have drawn their previous two Champions League home games with Manchester United.
Villarreal vs Man Utd: Ronaldo rescues United’s Champions League campaign
Cristiano Ronaldo has been influential in Manchester United’s Champions League campaign this season scoring in every game including three late goals to rescue United from losing positions.
Ronaldo scored five minutes into added time to give United a 2-1 victory at home against Villarreal on 29th September. Paco Alcácer had put the visitors in front in the 53rd minute at Old Trafford, Alex Telles levelling seven minutes later.
Ronaldo also scored late goals home (3-2) and away (2-2) against Atalanta on Matchdays 3 and 4 as United recovered from their 2-1 opening defeat at Young Boys.
Villarreal, who were held 2-2 at home by Atalanta in their opening fixture, have since beaten Young Boys 4-1 in Switzerland and 2-0 in Spain.
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