Donny van de Beek has accepted responsibility for his part in Young Boys’ equaliser.
Fabian Rieder whipped a strike into the top corner of Dean Henderson’s net after intercepting van de Beek’s pass around the edge of the Manchester United box.
The Dutchman is usually far better than that on the ball and he knows he is capable of better.
It was still a stunning strike to punish the error but van de Beek gave the ball away in a dangerous area.
Van de Beek spoke to club media after the game and held his hands up.
“I think the first 30 minutes was okay. We scored a good goal through Mason and after that, we have a few chances to make 2-0 or 3-0, but we didn’t do that,” said van de Beek.
“If we did that, it would have been much easier. Then 1-1 – for me, I lost the ball in the middle, maybe I should kick the ball away. I didn’t do that and I take my responsibility for that.
“After that, it was a little bit difficult. We didn’t get enough pressure on them and we lost too many balls.
“It’s really difficult to come into the game but a few players played their first game in the Champions League, which is really special for them.”
Van de Beek’s new role
It was a very attacking lineup selected by Ralf Rangnick, and van de Beek was the deepest midfielder in the United engine room.
That means he was charged with knitting the rotated side together and got played the ball in those tight areas where Young Boys wanted to press United high up the pitch.
The goal was a reminder of what can happen when the ball is turned over in those areas.
Rangnick also said after the game he was disappointed by the amount of times United played the ball into places on the pitch where Young Boys were happy to press instead of going a bit longer.
Van de Beek is also right to point out that if United had taken their chances, the shape of the game would have been different, and that is something else Rangnick will be keen for his side to improve on.
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