The team was exhausted by the end. Exactly why a loss to MU was such a disaster, and I don't wanna over-dramatize but could potentially cost us this entire season.
Totally correct. That's why I hated how people, coach and players downplayed or loss again Manchester. We would have secured first place right there and could have rested key players in the remaining games. To make it even worse, to not depend on the other result, we have to go out there in two weeks time and win that game as well. Under all circumstances we simply have to finish first to avoid those difficult matchups in the early rounds, because traditionally teams who ended up winning the whole thing didn't have the most difficult path to the final (except for Real last season but they shouldn't have even been there with all their luck against us and Bayern).
It was so unlike us the last 10 minutes or so to be all over the place. I liked our performance up to the goal (again), yes we were clumsy and sloppy, but our general play in possession was fine. However, to leave such gaps at the end of the game doesn't happen often, we usually soke up pressure and but leave little space in between lines. Yesterday, the gap between the lines was huge and this will be punished for that against better teams.
I still feel we have a long way to go to go all the way. I am hoping that Costa and Bernardeschi will regain fitness after the winter break as I believe they are fundamental to this team.