So Long for Sean
Crazy ‘save’ leads to red card and an easy night
SEAN LONGSTAFF is still waiting for Newcastle to sort out new deals for himself and brother Matty.
Contract talks are dragging on, and with younger brother Matty’s deal expiring in June, he could walk away for only around £400,000 in compensation.
Sean has two and a half years to run on his contract but is also after a pay rise, having become a target for Manchester United.
Asked about his contract situation, Longstaff said: “Me and Matty, we’re waiting for the club, really. It’s up to them what they want to do.”
It is understood fresh talks have taken place and improved offers made.
UNITED WIN 6-1 ON AGG
BRUNO FERNANDES spent the last 25 minutes with his feet up watching his teammates cruise into the last 16.
Nobody deserved the break more. After all, it was largely down to his magnificence and majesty over the previous hour that Manchester United were in such control.
The scorer of one and the creator of two more, Fernandes is already running the show more impressively than Paul Pogba has this season at least.
Yes, this was Club Brugge and a 10-man one for most of the game but it was another sign United have a fine player on their hands.
Fernandes – the £47m signing from Sporting Lisbon – will obviously have to impress against the Premier League big boys rather than a Belgian top-tier outfit to really prove his worth.
But all the signs here were that he is the creative midfielder Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side have been craving all season.
What might have come of their campaign if Fernandes arrived in June rather than January is something to consider.
But he could help them at least finish the season on a high by achieving Champions League qualification in the Premier League – or by winning this trophy, which would also secure their path back into Europe’s elite.
After a hectic start during which both sides could have added to the 1-1 score(above) line from the first leg last week in Belgium, United opened the scoring in the 27th minute when Brugge defender Simon Deli decided to turn into a keeper.
Daniel James’s strike was heading for the corner when Deli dived in front of Simon Mignolet and made a save any keeper would be proud of.
Dutch referee Serdar Gozubuyuk brandished the red card but as Fernandes waited to take his penalty, the VAR got involved to make it even stranger.
Gozubuyuk had a look at the pitchside monitor and didn’t change his mind that he had intentionally denied a goal with his arm.
Fernandes hopped, skipped and fired home the penalty five minutes after it was awarded.
United doubled their lead in the 35th minute when Fernandes’ beautifully chipped ball found Juan Mata. His first-time ball across the area found Odion Ighalo perfectly placed to score for the club on his first start.
The tie was then put to bed before the break. Fernandes had poached the ball before laying off to Fred, who in turn teed up Scott McTominay to calmly slot the ball home from 18 yards. And if there was any doubt, substitute Jesse Lingard set up Fred for the fourth with eight minutes to go as the United midfielder tapped home after a cut back from the England man.
The Brazil midfielder then made it five in injury-time with a fine finish.