Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has criticised the ball used in Manchester United’s Europa League draw with Club Brugge.
The Red Devils came from behind to secure a 1-1 draw in the first leg of their last-32 tie in Belgium, with Anthony Martial’s 14th goal of the season cancelling out an early strike by Bonaventure Dennis.
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The game was played in difficult conditions, with high winds, rain and even hail swirling around the Jan Breydel Stadium.
Solskjaer, therefore, was reasonably satisfied to come away with a draw, though he felt it wasn’t just the weather that hindered their display.
"It was a difficult game against a well-organised team in difficult conditions," he told reporters after the game.
"I don't think it was one of the best games that anyone's seen. A bit sloppy, concentration-wise, but the conditions with pitch and the ball make it hard. You can ask any of the players; that ball doesn't help when you want to play football.”
When asked to elaborate on his comment about the ball, Solskjaer added: "It's just different and difficult to play with, you can get one and try. But it's the same for the two teams. The conditions weren't nice; the wind and the rain.
"But anyway, strange goals for both teams. Their throw-in and long kick straight through the middle. A lack of concentration from both teams there.”
Solskjaer made six changes to the side that won at Chelsea on Monday, with the likes of David de Gea, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, and Bruno Fernandes all dropping to the bench.
With a clash against Watford to come in the Premier League on Sunday, the Norwegian felt he had little choice but to utilise his squad.
"Of course, a Monday night game and then Thursday, there's less recovery and it's a game again on Sunday. So you've got to think about the bigger picture and not one game,” he added.
"So we made the decisions we made and we got a draw, a score draw. So they've got to come to Old Trafford, score and if they want a draw they need to score more than one. So we're looking forward to Thursday."
