CAVANI SEALS THE DEAL FOR UNITED
Early goal banishes any Granada comeback
THE only background to this match that really mattered was Manchester United’s two-goal lead from the first leg last week in Andalusia.
Within six minutes at Old Trafford last night the advantage was 3-0 and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side were going through to the semi-finals of the Europa League again.
All the manager’s talk beforehand of changing the colour of banners around the stadium from red to black to help his players see one another better against the backdrop was rendered academic. United easily progressed at the expense of the underdogs from Granada, who have punched above their weight so effectively in Europe this season.
Indeed, the only person in danger of seeing red was Paul Pogba, who was a little fortunate to make it to half-time after setting up the early goal for Edinson Cavani.
Having been handed the captain’s armband for only the second time since he was stripped of the vice-captaincy by Jose Mourinho in September 2018, the Frenchman was booked in the 17th minute for thrusting an arm into the face of Granada skipper German Sanchez Barahona.
It was every bit as forceful as his challenge on Serge Aurier in Sunday’s win over Tottenham which Mourinho suggested could have brought a red card, but here Romanian official Istvan Kovacs only produced a yellow.
Minutes later, Pogba trod a very fine line by hauling down Yangel Herrera in front of the referee, who instead booked former Spurs striker Roberto Soldado for protesting that the United man should be sent off.
Given the size of United’s lead it was a little surprising Solskjaer did not take off Pogba at that point, especially after he then went down following a clash of knees with Kenedy.
One was reminded of the Champions League group tie against
Paris Saint-Germain here in September when the United manager chose not to replace Fred, even though he seemed intent on getting himself sent off, which he eventually succeeded in doing.
Maybe that was in Solskjaer’s mind when he took off Pogba at half-time and sent on Donny van de Beek, who must wonder what he has to do to get a start these days. It’s almost a month since he was in the line-up at Leicester in the FA Cup quarter-final. Solskjaer
said he was reluctant to make too many changes and named a strong side to compensate for the absence of Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw and Scott McTominay through suspension after they were booked in Spain.
Axel Tuanzebe, Alex Telles and Nemanja Matic were the three deputies with Pogba taking the armband from Maguire.
‘Paul is a big character and personality in the group,’ said Solskjaer before kick-off. ‘With the enforced changes, we have stuck with what we felt was a strong team.’
The United skipper was involved in the opening goal in the sixth minute that put the outcome of the tie beyond any doubt.
The ball was worked out to Telles on the left and Pogba trotted unmarked into the box to meet his cross. He headed the ball back to the equally free Cavani who despatched a volley into the bottom corner. It was the Uruguay striker’s 50th goal in European competition and a fine one at that.
Credit to the Spaniards, they didn’t give up and the impressive
Herrera was inches away from heading an equaliser when he got in behind the United defence. The home side went a little quiet and hardly threatened Rui Silva’s goal again before half-time until Matic clipped a lovely pass towards Bruno Fernandes, who sent a fierce volley swerving over the bar.
The second half opened with a flurry and both teams missed almost identical chances in the 50th minute.
First, Granada got forward and Dimitri Foulquier picked out substitute Jorge Molina with a cross but he headed straight at David de Gea.
Next it was United’s turn, Van de Beek marking his introduction by crossing from the right to Mason Greenwood unmarked in front of goal but he also headed into the goalkeeper’s arms.
De Gea produced an excellent reflex save to deny Herrera in the dying seconds before Juan Mata — on as a substitute to make his first appearance in two months — pressured Jesus Vallejo into heading into his own goal.
In the end this was every bit as routine as United’s convincing win in Spain promised to make it.
United are through to the final four and face Roma, their fifth semifinal under Solskjaer. They have yet to reach a final so it’s safe to say this is where the hard work starts.
MANCHESTER UNITED (4-2-3-1): De Gea 6.5; Wan-Bissaka 6 (Williams 82), Tuanzebe 6.5, Lindelof 7, Telles 6.5; Fred 6, Matic 7; Greenwood 6 (Amad 82), Fernandes 6 (Mata 73, 6.), Pogba 6.5 (Van de Beek 46, 6); CAVANI 7.5 (James 60, 6). Subs not used: Henderson, Grant, Rashford, Fish, Elanga, Shoretire. Scorers: Cavani 6, Vallejo (og) 90. Booked: Pogba. Manager: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer 7. GRANADA (4-2-3-1): Silva 6; Foulquier 5.5, Vallejo 6, German 6.5 (Perez 82), Neva 6 (Diaz 75, 6); Montoro 6.5, Gonalons 6 (Molina 32, 6); Kenedy 6 (Puertas 46, 6), Herrera 7, Machis 6; Soldado 6.5 (Suarez Charris 46, 6). Subs not used: Escandell, Fabrega, Ruiz, Torrente. Booked: Soldado, Sanchez, Neva. Manager: Diego Martinez 6. Referee: Istvan Kovacs 6 (Romania).