United teenager Greenwood leads European rout
Perhaps Manchester United really have turned a page under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. This felt like the start of a new chapter, with a twist in the plot. After so long fearing this is destined to end in disappointment and failure, perhaps there will be the happy ending everyone craved when he was appointed.
For months, United have been stuck in the same old plot, a tiresome narrative, with all the same failings, pitfalls and character flaws. An inconsistent team stuck in a cycle of mediocrity, excellent one week, dreadful the next.
For 45 minutes, United were the same ponderous and predictable team we have seen too often under Solskjaer, as AZ Alkmaar passed and moved, cutting and slicing through defence and midfield with ease. The visitors should have been in front at half-time.
“There wasn’t any cups flying at half-time,” Solskjaer said. “We just had to get the troops together and get back to what we’re good at, more aggressive, urgency without the ball, more composure. We were too slow, too rash, just giving the ball away.”
United were superb in the second half, thrilling and impossible to contain.
They were bright and inventive, full of flair and vision, destroying the Dutch team in a stunning burst of play that brought four goals in the space of just 11 minutes. It was the football equivalent of Blitzkrieg, quick, decisive and deadly. Alkmaar did not know what had hit them as Ashley Young’s thunderous finish was followed by two goals from their 18-year-old forward Mason Greenwood and a penalty from Juan Mata. It was stunning and neither should it be dismissed because it came in the Europa League against a team from Holland.
Alkmaar are second in the Eredivisie, three points behind Ajax. They are the only Dutch team good enough to prevent last season’s Champions League semi-finalists winning the league for a second successive year and they have a miserly defence.
But they were destroyed by this young United team when they had appeared to be in control of the game at the break.
Solskjaer had picked a strong team, wary of exposing too many young players to such high-calibre opposition, but they were still outplayed for 45 minutes.
Alkmaar, roared on by a sold-out away section, were far more threatening, Yukinari Sugawara spinning sharply on the edge of the area to force a save from Sergio Romero.
United responded, Andreas Pereira charging into the area, where his low shot was gathered at the second attempt by Marco Bizot.
It was a rare piece of cohesive offensive play and Alkmaar grew bolder, pushing higher up the pitch, trapping United in their own half as Oussama Idrissi forced another save from Romero before Jordy Clasie fired wide.
United were cumbersome in contrast, losing possession too easily or hitting hopeful through-balls for Anthony Martial to chase in the hope he would win the foot race.
At least United did not concede. AZ were crisper, but not clinical. Dani de Wit should have done better than scoop a first-time shot over moments after Idrissi’s cross curled narrowly wide of the far post.
A draw would have been enough for United to win the group, but they needed to show something that changed perceptions, not reinforced them.
The spark came from Greenwood, whose dribble to the byline was followed by a pass to Martial that should have been converted. The teenager was close to unplayable after that.
“I’ve probably said it all before,” said Solskjaer, “There is nothing new, that’s what he does, it’s just natural for him.”
It lifted the mood and when Pereira somehow wriggled out of the corner, despite initially facing the corner flag with two defenders around him, a one-two with Mata parted the Alkmaar defence. Mata could not hit the target, but when his shot rolled across the goal, Young arrived at speed to thump into the roof of the net. It was a far more difficult finish than he made it look.
It opened the floodgates, Greenwood converting clinically as his reputation continues to soar and Mata scoring from the spot after the youngster had been brought down inside the area.