RUTHLESSNESS RETURNS
AARON Wan-Bissaka was still at right-back, Harry Maguire at centre-back, Scott McTominay was reunited with Fred and Anthony Martial was dubiously recalled. But Bruno Fernandes was dropped. It should have happened weeks ago.
Fernandes has been performing like a drain for months, salvaging the odd performance by making something out of nothing. Depending on the next coach, Fernandes’ role could be in jeopardy amid his inability to control a game.
In the last two months, he has symbolised United with his chaotic carelessness and the recall of Donny van de Beek at Fernandes’ expense was a significant call.
Ultimately, the Dutchman struggled for consistency and Fernandes’ demotion jolted him. His contribution off the bench was instrumental to United’s victory.
SANCHO SUCCEEDS
FOR the first time in 62 days, Van de Beek emerged from the tunnel at kick-off and strode onto the pitch, rather than towards the bench.
Had United resisted the constant shape-shifting then Van de Beek might have settled and found a rhythm. In an effort to give him a freer role, he had no role and no impact. He was substituted just gone the
hour.
Jadon Sancho benefited from a consistent remit of running up and down the righthand side and produced his most threatening display for United by far, crowning it with his first goal.
The Reds stressed Sancho was their right wing priority in the summer of 2020 and then more vaguely he was viewed as a ‘winger’ upon his arrival. Sensibly, Carrick decided to use him in the role he was intended for.
DIFFERENCES AND SIMILARITIES
CARRICK claimed he would be ‘very similar to Ole’ on Monday and United were indeed indebted to David de Gea again. The denial of Manu Trigueros drew visible admiration from Trigueros himself.
Carrick never sat down in the technical area, in contrast to Solskjaer’s back-seat driving, and United were more tactically varied, starting in a 4-2-3-1 only to switch to a 4-4-2 without the ball and 4-3-3 with it.
United were compact and not as porous, but the game plan was bereft of an attacking threat in the first-half.
SOLSKJAER REMEMBERED
AS United took their huddle, the supporters high up on the Estadio de la Cerámica sang along to Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. “Late in May in 1999, Ole scored a goal in injury time, what a feeling, what a night.”