Manchester United had an afternoon to forget in their matchday six of the 2021/22 Premier League season after their disappointing 1-0 loss to Aston Villa. Cristiano Ronaldo played the full 90 minutes but was unable to add to his incredible numbers since joining Manchester United for the second time.
It was generally a poor game from Manchester United and a very good game for the visitors Aston Villa who were the better side and deserved to take all three points. Spanish goalkeeper David de Gea helped Manchester United to keep the scoreline respectable with fantastic saves, else it would have been a scoreline like 4-0 for Aston Villa who clearly dominated the match from start to finish. Manchester United's chance of redeeming themselves came in the final minutes of the match through a penalty but Bruno Fernandes wasted the chance by sending the penalty high into the stands and Manchester United lost their first match of the Premier League season, their third loss in four games.
Manchester United were awarded a penalty in the latter stages of the match after a handball by an Aston Villa defender, with Cristiano Ronaldo still on the pitch, you would expect that he would step up to play the penalty but he did not and allowed fellow Portuguese midfielder Bruno Fernandes, who took Manchester United's penalty last season to take. Bruno Fernandes blazed it over the bar in a manner unlike him. Cristiano Ronaldo was believed to have left the penalty to Bruno Fernandes because he, Fernandes is the club's designated penalty taker and Ronaldo wants to respect laid down rules at the club.
Aston Villa and Argentine goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, who had been fantastic throughout the match, pulled off an incredible stunt before the penalty. Martinez was seen shouting around where the Manchester United players were gathered and pointing to Cristiano Ronaldo, believed to be gesturing to the Portuguese to take the penalty and that he's confident in his ability to save it. Ronaldo never took the penalty and Bruno Fernandes who took it lost it. Great trick from the South American who returned to the starting lineup for Aston Villa after the last international break for Argentina.
The pressure already mounting on the Manchester United manager is further fuelled by the loss at Old Trafford and unless results turn around very soon, he could be sacked at the club. The club is believed to be considering Antonio Conte or Zinedine Zidane if he gets sacked.
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