The Manchester United squad have found their fall-guy for Tuesday's 3-2 loss to Wolfsburg that precipitated their Champions League exit.
Players are not blaming themselves for failing to defend better for the 90 minutes, or hold onto the lead in the game for more than a few minutes.
But Louis van Gaal, who is now under increasing pressure at Old Trafford, is the source of much internal ire. The Dutchman irritated many with a substitution in the match when the result, and the club's Champion's League hopes, were still in the balance as they trailed 2-1 in Germany.
Juan Mata had a goal disallowed at the end of the first half, but its seems that his replacement in the 69th minute for Nick Powell, who hadn't featured for his club in 16 months, was a major source of confusion among players.
The Times are reporting that players were left bemused when Mata was called ashore despite having assisted Anthony Martial for the opening goal, and generally being one of the better players in red.
The players are not laying any blame at the door of Powell, but rather the manager for landing the player in an unenviable position to rescue the club's Champions League ambitions in just 20 minutes with no game time in so long.
Clearly Manchester United fans also felt perplexed by the change,
https://twitter.com/ManUnitedYouth/status/674896022183780352
https://twitter.com/WillyBlob/status/674717737759862784
https://twitter.com/AidanMUFC_/status/674524867337838592
https://twitter.com/LaurensJulien/status/674353854595624961
https://twitter.com/theunitedmanc/status/674345887020265472
