DEFENSIVE DISASTER
WHEN Marcus Rashford equalised for United late on, the shout from anyone in the away side should have been to calm it down and keep their heads. Within a dozen seconds of kick-off they were behind again.
It was a shambolic 12 seconds that summed up United’s form this season.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s chaotic attempt to stop Luke Thomas got nowhere and then Victor Lindelof and Harry Maguire both decided to drop off Jamie Vardy, the Premier League’s pre-eminent poacher, who was left unmarked eight yards out.
Vardy’s finish was excellent but the defending, having just got back in the game, was simply inexcusable. It summed up another chaotic afternoon for the Reds.
Once again they were second best for most of the game, lacking any kind of control and making poor errors of judgement.
There was no fluency or cohesion to an attacking game that remains too reliant on individuals. But the defining image from this game will be that spell from kick-off at 2-2 to going behind again. It was a shambles.
GREENWOOD’S ON THE RIGHT TRACK
LEICESTER can’t say they weren’t warned. Before Mason Greenwood’s thunderbolt to give United the lead the teenager had already cut inside onto his left foot and curled a shot straight at Kasper Schmeichel.
Having got his angles a little wrong with his first attempt, they were calculated to precision next time around. Greenwood darted in from the touchline and his rocket of a shot began just inside the post, bent away a touch and flew into the net off the woodwork. It was an astonishing goal.
The quality of it was summed up by the reaction of Cristiano Ronaldo, who threw both hands into the air in wonder as the ball hit the back of the net.
Greenwood has probably been United’s most consistent attacker so far this season. He’s clearly benefitting from not being in the England squad at the moment but on this form that’s not going to be a luxury United can maintain for long.
This was further proof Greenwood’s best role at the moment is on the righthand side, where he can run at defenders and cut in onto that stronger foot, which poses the question as to how Jadon Sancho can oust him when he moves from left to right.
Sancho can play on the left but that position is fraught with competition at United, with Marcus Rashford ready to stake his claim again and Paul Pogba also an option when he’s not used in midfield.
At 19 United won’t want Greenwood playing every game, but on this evidence, he’s not far off undroppable. Sancho’s wait to establish himself as United’s long-term rightwinger - the role he was signed for - could go on for a little longer yet.
SANCHO’S IN-GAME TUITION
SANCHO did play on the left for Dortmund but at the moment the 21-year-old is still getting used to United’s style of play and it was noticeable he received plenty of instruction in the second half when playing in front of the dugouts.
Solskjaer called on him to offer more width, with Sancho regularly finding himself in central areas. Then when United were waiting to take a goal-kick Michael Carrick came out and had a detailed conversation with the winger. There’s no doubt his impact at the club so far has been disappointing and it was no surprise he was the man to make way for Rashford.