Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
GREENWOOD IS FLYING AGAIN
Mason repays Ole’s faith in him by taking his tally to five goals in the last six games
Greenwood Cavani 90+3
MASON GREENWOOD vindicated Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s belief in his goalscoring prowess to inspire Manchester United to a welldeserved win.
Greenwood endured a 15-game run without a goal from late January to mid-march, but has rediscovered his scoring touch, his double against Burnley taking his tally to five in his last six matches.
He may have been jettisoned by England boss Gareth Southgate, but Greenwood is proving his enduring value to United, who have trimmed Manchester City’s lead at the top to eight points.
It is the same position from which United blew the title in 2012, losing it on goal difference to City in the most dramatic final day of the season, but there seems little chance of Pep Guardiola’s side folding in the same way.
For Greenwood, having scored 17 goals last season in his first full United campaign, it was always going to be hard for him to repeat that return this term, with the 20-year-old currently on nine.
But with six Premier League games left to play and potentially three in the
Europa League, he is sure to reach double figures and can end a season of frustration on a high.
Sent home from England duty in September, along with Phil Foden, for a breach of team protocol, it took Greenwood some time to recover from that setback, his form on the pitch suffering as a result.
But the forward has proved his strength of character to come through a challenging period and was United’s matchwinner here, helping Solskjaer’s side to a gritty win.
The Clarets had the ball in the United goal after just 10 seconds, Dean Henderson charging out to a ball he was never going to reach, allowing Chris Wood (left) to head it into the empty net.
The goal was ruled out for offside against Wood, a VAR check confirming it as the correct decision. After that let-off, United wasted no time in trying to get their noses in front, a goal-bound effort from Scott Mctominay blocked by Burnley skipper Ben Mee.
Paul Pogba came close to making the breakthrough with a looping header from an Aaron Wan-bissaka cross after nine minutes, Burnley keeper Bailey Peacock-farrell tipping the ball away.
There was no let-up from United, Bruno Fernandes shooting wide in the 13th minute after being put through by Marcus Rashford.
United continued to push for the opener, Peacock-farrell producing a fine save to keep out an angled effort from
Rashford in the 29th minute, while at the other end, Wood headed wide. Greenwood should have put United in front in the 38th minute, Fernandes picking out Rashford, who steered the ball back across the face of the goal. But the young striker was unable to reach it.
United made the breakthrough three minutes into the second half, with a beautifully crafted goal. Rashford nutmegged Matt Lowton, Fernandes let the ball pass through his legs for Greenwood, who produced an emphatic finish (below left).
The lead lasted 114 seconds, James Tarkowski getting above Harry Maguire to plant a header beyond Henderson, whose failure to come for the ball made him as culpable as his captain.
Greenwood plundered his second six minutes from time, an angled shot taking a deflection off Jack Cork and beating Peacock-farrell at his near post.
Sub Edinson Cavani made sure of victory in added time, finishing off a fine breakaway move that also involved Greenwood, Fernandes and Donny van
de Beek.
WE’LL HUNT DOWN CITY
OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER vowed to keep the pressure on Manchester City after cutting their lead at the top of the Premier League to eight points.
Manchester United’s win over Burnley saw them close the gap to the same position from which they blew the title in 2012, losing to City on goal difference on the final day.
Solskjaer (right) does not expect City to fold like that, but said there will be no let-up from his team after two-goal hero
Mason Greenwood sealed victory before Edinson Cavani (below, left) grabbed a late third.
“Our fitness and belief has improved this year,” said Solskjaer. “It’s probably unrealistic to think we can catch City but stranger things have happened in football. We just have to do our job.
“I’m really proud that we never give up and we’ve proven our fitness and resilience so many times this season.
“We came back last week and scored three goals against
Tottenham and we scored three goals in the second half again here. We’ve always said this year has to be about progress and improvement. We’ve got as many points as last season – if we get more than we got last season, that’s progress.”
Greenwood, who went 15 games without a goal midway through the season, took his tally to five in his last six games. “I knew the goals would come,” he said. “I’ve just got my head down and taken my opportunities.
“I’m happy that I’m playing a lot and that Ole trusts me. I want to help my teammates and it’s showing.”
On potentially catching City, Old Trafford forward Greenwood echoed his boss and said: “You can never have doubts.
“They might slip up and you just have to keep concentrating. We have to win our games, then whatever happens will happen. Anything is possible. Hopefully they’ll drop more points before the end of the season, but we’ll just focus on our games.”