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SOLSKJAER SALUTES ‘THE REAL UN
ONE of the biggest disappointments for Manchester United fans about the lockdowns was that a packed Old Trafford only got to see Bruno Fernandes play four times.
Yesterday was the fifth – and boy did the Portugal star make up for it.
Last season’s 28-goal top scorer picked up where he left off as he netted a hat-trick to serve notice to champions Manchester City that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side mean business.
Fernandes was unstoppable as the Red Devils tore Leeds apart at Old Trafford for the second time in eight months, having put six past them in December. As brilliant as Fernandes was, this impressive win was not just about him.
Paul Pogba was superb, weighing in with four assists. Mason Greenwood also shone and his finish for United’s second goal was sublime.
Jadon Sancho made his debut off the bench with the game won, while Raphael Varane was paraded before kick-off after finally sealing his move from Real Madrid.
On this scintillating form they will take some stopping and their fans left Old Trafford believing a first title since 2013 is on.
“This is the real Man United,” said a thrilled Solskjaer.
“Sir Alex Ferguson, the gaffer, always used to say ‘enjoy yourself, express yourself.’ You have to enjoy the privilege and pressure and responsibility of playing in front of 75,000 fans and millions more fans watching in front of the television. But to get there and
smile you have to do that hard work know the headlines will probably Paul or Bruno, but this was a team e
United badly struggled witho home fans last season in the League, losing six and drawing fatally undermine their title challen
They look in the mood to restore Old Trafford and this was a hig display full of intensity and de Leeds, it was another humbling at t of their fiercest rivals and Marce must be concerned by how they c after Luke Ayling’s sensational equa
England midfielder Kalvin Phil
left on the bench following his Euro exertions this summer. But Bielsea said: “Phillips always shines but this was not down to individual problems.”
Energised by the raucous support from their home fans, United exploded from the blocks and Illan Meslier twice denied Greenwood.
Leeds are famous for their high pressing under Bielsa, but the hosts’ opener on the half-hour came from a turnover.
They won the ball from Meslier’s goal kick and Pogba played in Fernandes with a superb first-time ball, which he dispatched through the legs of the unfortunate goalkeeper. Leeds levelled on 48 minutes when Ayling hit an angled drive into the top right corner from 30 yards out.
The home side’s response was emphatic as they scored three times in eight minutes to win the game.
First Pogba played another divine pass out left to Greenwood, who outpaced Pascal Struijk to lash home left-footed inside the far post on 52 minutes.
Two minutes later, Fernandes checked back on to his left foot and hit a shot which crossed the line before Ayling could hoof it away.
And on 60 minutes Victor Lindelof played a fantastic long ball through to Fernandes, who thumped it home on the half-volley to complete his hat-trick.
The Reds and Pogba were not done and six minutes later, the France star set up Fred to compound Leeds’ misery.
MANCHESTER UNITED: De Gea 7; Wan-Bissaka 6, Lindelof
7, Maguire 7, Shaw 7; Fred 7, McTominay 7 (Matic (69th) 6); James 6 (Sancho (75th) 6), Fernandes 9, Pogba 9 (Martial (75th)
6); Greenwood 8
LEEDS: Meslier 6; Ayling 7, Koch 5, Cooper 6, Dallas 7; Struijk
5; Raphinha 6, Klich 6, Rodrigo 5 (Firpo (46th) 5), Harrison 6 (Costa (69th) 5); Bamford 5 (Roberts 77th)
REF: P Tierney
Man United’s next game: Southampton, Sun (a)
Leeds’ next game: Everton, Sat (h)