WHAT WE LEARNED
■ LINK-UP PLAY
WATCHING the way United carved out chances against Sheffield United at Old Trafford it was hard to comprehend that this was the same side who had lacked creativity for so much of the season.
The Reds played with confidence, guile and ingenuity against the Blades, with the link-up play and combinations in the final third not only pleasing on the eye but also regularly finding space against a team who have been so impressive defensively this season.
Time and again Sheffield United players were pulled around and out of position, giving space to Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba in midfield, or Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial in behind.
The combinations between Rashford and Martial on the break for the easy chance the former fluffed was impressive, but it was a one-touch move between Fernandes, Rashford and Pogba early in the first half that really took the
breath away. It ended with Pogba’s flicked, lofted pass setting Rashford free and had he connected with the volley it would have been a magnificent goal. United continued to torment their visitors though and chances were fairly easy to come by. So much of it was built on impressive partnership play, between Rashford and Martial, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Fernandes, Pogba and Fernandes and Fernandes
on Martial, who linked up very well. The range of partnerships and the movement that looked so synchronised speaks volumes for the work that’s been done on the training ground this season and bodes well for the future.
That Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and his coaches have turned a functional, one-dimensional team into a cohesive attacking unit is an exciting development for the future.
■ MARTIAL V RASHFORD
THE image of Martial and Rashford sitting next to each other on the United bench after they’d both been
withdrawn in Solskjaer’s historymaking quintuple substitution spoke volumes.
They’d linked up wonderfully all evening but while Martial was ruthless in front of goal, Rashford missed two excellent chances. Suddenly they’re level on 19 goals for the season.
That represents a personal best for both and they’ve embraced the burden of scoring goals for United.
A return of 38 between them is excellent and that could easily nudge close to 50 over the remaining games this season. They look a partnership that could thrive for years.
■ WAN-BISSAKA’S IMPROVEMENT WHILE the three-month hiatus in the season doesn’t look to have robbed United of momentum, the same is true of right-back Wan-Bissaka.
In the last 11 games he played before the season was suspended, beginning the 4-0 win against Norwich, the numbers back up how he was making a much more consistent and decisive contribution in the final third.
United have long needed more attacking impetus from full-back and the 22-year-old is now beginning to provide it. His assist for Martial was a prime example.