Five things United learnt from their defeat to Wolfsburg
Martial replicates Rooney of old to spell end for captain The difference between Anthony Martial and Wayne Rooney, and the reason why the United skipper should not walk back into the team, was clear in United’s first goal.
Martial, pictured, made a brilliant darting run in behind the Wolfsburg centre backs, running on to a slid-through pass by Juan Mata. It was the type of run Mata needs in front of him, the type of run Rooney used to make but cannot any longer. It was the type of run that deserves a good finish, and Martial is better at that, too, at the moment. Draxler a cut above the rest to alert Europe’s biggest clubs Julian Draxler did not leave Schalke for Arsenal, nor for Juventus, who tried to sign him last year. He chose to stay in Germany, going to Wolfsburg. But on Tuesday night, he showed why Europe’s biggest teams will always be after him. Draxler was the best player on the pitch, making Wolfsburg’s brilliant second, ghosting away from Bastian Schweinsteiger, exchanging passes with Max Kruse then teeing up Vieirinha.
He nearly scored just before halftime, unable to beat David de Gea after skipping his way into space. But his delicate footwork, balance and change of pace were impressive throughout. United’s defence comes up short when it’s needed most United’s defence has been impressive this season, yet Tuesday night, they were picked apart routinely by an incisive Wolfsburg.
Naldo lost his marker from a set-piece for the first and third goals, while the United defence was left stationary for the second. De Gea had to make three sharp saves, two from André Schurrle and one from Kruse with both missing good chances. With most full backs out, Matteo Darmian going off injured and no real protection from Bastian Schweinsteiger or Marouane Fellaini, United’s defence was a porous mess. Premier League opposition may take note. Carrick’s omission leaves United’s frail defence exposed On a night when United needed more control, not less, it was curious that Louis van Gaal left his most controlling player, Michael Carrick, on the bench. Schweinsteiger was not mobile enough to close off Wolfsburg’s counter-attacks, while the entire match passed Fellaini by, as it so often does at this level.
Had United picked Carrick from the start they might have had a bit more intelligence in that area, but it was not to be. Dearth of goals could prove costly for VanGaal’s future Ultimately, Wolfsburg away was the hardest of United’s games and the result was no disgrace. The mistakes that cost them qualification was their defeat in Eindhoven, their draw in Moscow, and, worst of all, 0-0 at home against PSV.
Almost one quarter of the Red Devils’ games this season have finished 0-0 and those are the results that are strangling their season. This was always going to be a difficult task, given the opposition and United’s own injuries. But they had left themselves no margin for error. Van Gaal might not have much now either. –The Independent