‘Just magnificent’ for Shaw as Ole breaks shackles
THEY showed a swagger and a flair not seen for months and Manchester United’s Luke Shaw said this victory was exactly how they are supposed to play.
In 90 minutes, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer broke the shackles of the Jose Mourinho reign and returned to the traditions of
Sir Alex Ferguson. The fans have their United back.
“Under any circumstances, that’s how Man United are expected to play,” said Shaw.
“At times it didn’t happen. But the team were very good, very quick getting the ball forward and we were more clinical. The goals we scored were just magnificent.
“They scored but we didn’t change anything. We carried on and the third was an amazing team goal. That’s something we need to take from today but the most important thing was that we got the three points.
“We’ve had Carrers and Kieran [coaches Michael Carrick and Kieran McKenna] who’ve been with us since the start of the season and they carried on with what they’ve been doing.
“They’ve worked really well and that’s helped in the last two or three days. It’s not nice when there’s a big change at the top, the way it was. But it’s sort of a fresh start and we need to look forward.”
It was the first time that United have scored five in a game since Sir Alex Ferguson left in May 2013 and, while Cardiff are hardly a European superpower, the belief returned.
Marcus Rashford scored a stunning free-kick, Ander Herrera had a shot deflected into the top corner, Anthony Martial rounded off a great team goal and man of the match Jesse Lingard scored twice. United are still eight points off fourth but now, starting with
CARDIFF MAN UNITED
Huddersfield on Boxing Day, they have a run of winnable games.
And Cardiff midfielder Aron Gunnarsson says United are getting a different Solskjaer from the one who flopped at Cardiff.
Solskjaer took over at Old Trafford with some major question marks because of his disastrous short reign at Cardiff, when they were relegated from the Premier League in 2014.
But Gunnarsson says Solskjaer’s standing as a United legend will give him a much better chance of success.
He said: “He came in at Cardiff with a positive attitude, looking at the game in a different way. He tried to impact his style of football.
“Unfortunately it didn’t work but he’s got a good squad at Man United. It’s a different job. The fans know him as a legend. He’s given them good times before and it’s for them to relive that moment.”
Gunnarsson says Cardiff must take the positive that they are not in the drop zone for Christmas. He said: “We need to build on that and stick together even though this loss was tough to take.”
CARDIFF (4-5-1):
Etheridge 6; Ecuele Manga 5, Morrison 5, Bamba 6, Cunningham 5; Hoilett 5 (Harris 74), Camarasa 7, Gunnarsson 6 (Ralls 83), Arter 5 (Zohore 61, 5), Murphy 6; Paterson 6. Cunningham, Gunnarsson. Camarasa 38 pen. Crystal Palace (a), Boxing Day PL.
Booked: MAN UTD (4-4-2):
De Gea 7; Young 6, Jones 6, Lindelof 7, Shaw 7; Herrera 7, Matic 6 (Fellaini 87, 6), Pogba 8, Lingard 9; Rashford 7 (Fred 79, 6), Martial 7 (Pereira 87, 6). Shaw.
Rashford 3, Herrera 29, Martial 41, Lingard 57 pen, 90. Huddersfield (h), Boxing Day PL.
M Oliver (Northumberland).
Goals: Referee: NEXT UP: Booked: NEXT UP: Goal: