OLE ....... 1 POCH...0
SOLSKJAER SHOWS UNITED HE IS THE MAN FOR THE JOB AS REDS MAKE IT SIX WINS OUT OF SIX
IT takes an enviable talent to make the pass better than the goal and Paul Pogba is such a talent.
His pinged pass that Marcus Rashford clinically finished compelled almost half the United outfield players to mob the creator rather than the goalscorer.
Picking a battle with Pogba was always going to be a losing one for Jose Mourinho.
If ever there were a sight that highlighted the French World Cup winner’s aura it was his team-mates’ reaction to the opening goal at Wembley, the scene of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s most triumphant day yet as a United manager.
He has not only equalled Sir Matt Busby’s record of five victories from his first five league fixtures, but becomes the only United manager to now win his first six.
At full-time, the players did not go to Pogba but to David de Gea, for the three points were only secured by United’s other world-class player, but it would be a disservice to the Reds to focus solely on the Spaniard.
Luke Shaw was blocking in the 93rd minute, Ander Herrera was dribbling with cramp and Phil Jones was on his knees. “Ole, Ole, Ole, Ole,” the United fans sang.
After the players had shown their appreciation to the raucous Reds, Solskjaer emerged from the throng and applauded them on his own, something that is becoming a ritual. The beggars-belief exhibition of De Gea’s skill arrived at Wembley, where there were 11 saves in a sensational second half alone, the highlight being the denial of Toby Alderweireld from a corner that the keeper’s left leg jutted out like a wicket to rebound the ball away. United must pressingly address his contract that has under 18 months left on it. The Reds were overdue a defensive man of the match on Solskjaer’s watch and their goalkeeper’s gumption should not overshadow the impacts of Victor Lindelof and Jones, who celebrated Shaw’s dogged defending with a firm pat on the back late on, or the attacking contributions. Solskjaer was innovative and a little fortuitous, though aren’t all coaches who have De Gea? Punters are no longer focusing on the Pogba brand or marketability but his football, and in these last few weeks he has demonstrated just why he was re-signed as the ‘captain midfielder.’ In time, he might permanently inherit that armband – there was a second-half burst into the Tottenham area that was a throwback to the gutsiness of Bryan Robson and Roy Keane. One cannot imagine Pogba taking a day off at Mere Golf Club, but his precision was tantamount to finding the pin from the fairway.
It would be churlish to overlook the significance of Rashford’s eighth club goal of the campaign.
He has now scored as many under Solskjaer in three weeks as he had under Mourinho in four months.
He has also struck against every one of United’s Premier League top six opponents.
Unlike Pogba, Rashford was performing prior to the managerial change, yet his chance-conversion has soared under a coach who made light work of the most acute of finishes.
It was a humdinger of a match. Harry Winks, Jesse Lingard and Rashford had goalscoring openings within the first 12 minutes, with Lingard’s far-post halfvolley a particularly glaring miss. That blemished an otherwise astute half from
With De Gea, some shots seem to be saved before the opponent has hit it Samuel Luckhurst
Lingard, selected in a central role to suffocate Winks at the base of the Spurs diamond.
It is a more vocal United side, with Solskjaer and Carrick’s regular hollerings drowned out by Jones, who went spare at an overcomplicated pass that the Reds still retained possession from.
The standards are rising in the passing, if not the defending.
The linesman’s flag correctly denied Harry Kane’s conversion from a cross in the 31st minute. “Have you ever seen Tottenham win the league?” crowed the United supporters.
‘Freer not fixed’ is maybe the mantra for Solskjaer’s United and the attacking trident was constantly in motion.
Rashford and Martial switched flanks twice in the first half alone, a dubious tactic given how incongruous they tend to look on the side and Martial was creative on the left, albeit in isolated moments that were too sporadic for Solskjaer.
Without the second attacking switch, Pogba would not have found Rashford with such effortless elegance.
Tottenham did not register an attempt on target in the first half and there were three within five minutes of the restart.
Kane was foiled by De Gea, whose save from Dele Alli was all the more impressive since Kane was a nearby obstruction.
That did not discourage United and Pogba twice drew saves from Lloris, though his carelessness allowed Alli to home in on De Gea’s goal, which he found to be impregnable.
With De Gea, some shots seem to be saved before the opponent has hit it.
That did not appear so when Kane swivelled and hit forcefully in the 86th minute. This time, the right leg jutted out. Solskjaer has two enviable talents.