Shoretire, 17, beats Whiteside’s record on European debut
Shola Shoretire and Amad Diallo will have good reason to want to linger over the memory of this game. For pretty much everyone else of a Manchester United persuasion, this was about seeing through a tie they had as good as won last week with the minimum of fuss and moving on to Sunday’s trip to Chelsea and a week that could have a significant bearing on the rest of their season.
Real Sociedad turned up at Old Trafford without the former Manchester City midfielder, David Silva, and effectively kissed goodbye to any hopes of an improbable comeback from their 4-0 first leg defeat when Mikel Oyarzabal missed an early penalty as United safely reached today’s last-16 draw.
There is, of course, the prospect of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer – who celebrates his 48th birthday today – being paired with his former club Molde, who overcame Hoffenheim. Solskjaer was a little ambivalent about such a draw, given that Molde had to play the first leg in Spain last week, and there would be no guarantee of a Norwegian homecoming for the United manager due to coronavirus restrictions. However, the birthday present he really wants is three points at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea, in fifth, have the opportunity to close the gap on United to just three points with a win, which would heighten the pressure on Solskjaer’s side ahead of games against Crystal Palace and leaders Manchester City next week. Solskjaer hopes to have Edinson Cavani and Scott Mctominay back for Stamford Bridge. “From now until the international break we have seven or eight games – all important games – so these three weeks will be massive for us, but we are a good team,” Solskjaer said.
Despite the importance of the Chelsea game, and his team holding a commanding lead over Sociedad, Solskjaer was still reluctant to give Bruno Fernandes the whole night off although, having weathered an early storm to reach the interval goalless, the manager then saw fit to withdraw his midfield talisman.
The second half was played out with little to fear and long before Sociedad managed their first shot on target with a few minutes remaining, Solskjaer had handed Diallo a home debut and watched Shoretire become United’s youngest ever appearance maker in Europe.
At just 17 years and 23 days, Shoretire – who had made his United debut four days earlier against Newcastle – eclipsed a record Norman Whiteside had held for 39 years.
Like winger Diallo, signed from Atalanta for an initial £18.2million last month, United have high hopes for Shoretire. Solskjaer’s only disappointment was that there were no fans inside Old Trafford to share the moment with the young midfielder.
“Shola has some skills and an attitude that we think will make him a very good player,” the manager said. “It’s a platform tonight. It is someold
thing for him to remember, something to build on. With the fans he would have enjoyed it more, but these are strange times. Anyone who signs here has a chance if they have the right attitude and listen to the coaches.”
It had been a slack start from United. They were fortunate not to find themselves behind after just 13 minutes when Oyarzabal blazed a penalty horribly wide after Daniel James had bundled over Andoni Gorosabel. Ander Guevara also shot over after good work from United
boy Adnan Januzaj. Yet United recovered to take command, with Fernandes providing the spark. He hit the crossbar with a bending shot.
With Sociedad resigned to their fate, it was a low-key second half. Modibo Sagan headed against the crossbar, but United otherwise seldom looked troubled. Axel Tuanzebe had a goal ruled out following a review by Var after Victor Lindelof planted a knee in the head of Jon Bautista, for which he was cautioned. Roll on Chelsea.
Manchester United (4-2-3-1): Henderson 6; Wan-bissaka 6 (Williams ht), Bailly 7, Lindelof 7, Telles 6; Fred 6 (Tuanzebe ht), Matic 7; Greenwood 6 (Shoretire 76), Fernandes 7 (Rashford ht), James 6 (Diallo 59); Martial 6. Subs De Gea (g), Grant (g), Bishop, Maguire, Shaw, Galbraith. Booked Fred, Williams, Lindelof.
Real Sociedad (4-3-3): Remiro 7; Gorosabel 6 (Bautista ht), Zubeldia 6, Sagnan 6, Munoz 6; Guevara 6 (Guridi 72), Zubimendi 6, Merino 6; Januzaj 6 (Merquelanz 66), Isak 6 (Portu ht), Oyarzabal 5 (Barrenetxea ht). Ruiz-zeberio (g), Marrero (g), Monreal, Lopez, Gonzalez.
Lawrence Visser (Belgium).