United made to wait for CL last 16 following shock loss in Basel
Late goal means Reds aren't through to last 16 just yet
Last updated 23rd Nov 2017
United have to wait to secure their place in the Champions League knockout stages after Basel capitalised on a stark second-half drop off by Jose Mourinho's men.
Starting Group A with four wins from as many games put the Red Devils on the brink of the last-16, although the end of their 100 per cent record has prolonged the wait for what surely remains inevitable progress. The Reds would need to lose their last game against CSKA Moscow by more than six goals to drop down to the Europa League.
Michael Lang's late effort secured Basel a deserved 1-0 win after a second-half onslaught that followed a dominant opening period by the visitors, with Anthony Martial and Marcos Rojo hitting the frame of the goal.
The result left Mourinho somewhat confused about the permutations, but avoiding a record European defeat at home to CSKA Moscow will ensure progress.
A point will see them top Group A, just as it would have done in Basel - a fact that caught United in two minds about whether to settle for a point or go for victory.
"We played against a team that played with five defenders,'' Mourinho said. "We knew that."
"We tried to play with three attacking players and that worked in the first half because they couldn't handle us."
"We didn't score in the second half probably (because of) the fact that we know one point is enough."
"So it's hard for me to be upset with the players. The first half the attitude was good, the football was good."
"It is really difficult to blame. It's just football.''
Mourinho said it "should have been 5-0'' in the first half