Fernandes treble sees Red Devils crush Whites
MANCHESTER UNITED 5 Fernandes (30, 54, 60), Greenwood (52), Fred (68) LEEDS UNITED 1 Ayling (49)
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer loved playing in front of a first full house in 17 months as much as the exceptional display that sealed Manchester United’s seasonopening hammering of rivals Leeds.
A sell-out 72,732 crowd descended on Old Trafford and those in attendance, plus the millions watching across the world, will not forget this breathless Premier League clash in a hurry.
United paraded Raphael Varane on the pitch having completed the defender’s signing just before a match in which they ran amok, with Bruno Fernandes’ hat-trick complemented by Mason Greenwood and Fred goals in a 5-1 victory.
“It’s been a perfect day in that respect,” manager Solskjaer said.
“I love the 12.30 kick-offs as well because you can go home, relax and enjoy the day – or you can forget the day and just spend it with your family.
“Just driving in this morning with the fans outside, then you come inside and feel the energy. Absolutely brilliant, so it’s been a very, very good day.”
United were purring at times against Leeds, with Fernandes grabbing the match ball, 19-year-old Greenwood flourishing and Paul Pogba providing four assists in an outstanding display.
“Impressive,” Solskjaer said of the latter. “Paul’s always got that vision, he’s got that quality.
“I know the headlines will be about Bruno or Paul, but this is a team effort and the space Mason creates for Bruno to open up the channels, what everyone does ahead of the goals has been worked on this week.
But, Paul, I’m very impressed with his fitness levels. He’s not been with us for too long and he looks fit, ready to go, enjoying his football.
“I love Paul being Paul and all these boys smiling when they’re playing football.”
Pogba has now been joined at United by 2018 World Cup-winning team-mate Varane after the France international completed his switch from Real Madrid.
“I haven’t spoken to him, but of course it was a nice moment for him and it was a nice moment for the fans as well,” Solskjaer said of the pre-match announcement.
“I’m looking forward to working with him.” Greenwood looked lively from the outset and followed a 25-yard effort with a more fortunate attempt on goal as Pascal Struijk’s clearance hit him and threatened to loop over Illan Meslier. The 19-year-old was involved again as the hosts had their best chance of the first half, with Pogba following a superb step over when up against Leeds’ goalkeeper by directing narrowly wide.
That appeared to jolt the visitors into life, with David De Gea producing an important save to deny Mateusz Klich before Rodrigo powered a header wide from a fine free-kick.
But the hosts broke the deadlock on the half-hour mark as Pogba expertly clipped a first-time ball through to Fernandes, who took a touch and squeezed past Meslier.
Bielsa turned to debutant Junior Firpo at the break and Leeds made a superb start to the second half.
The hosts were caught napping from a throw-in and right-back Ayling capitalised in style, taking aim from 25 yards to thump expertly into the top left-hand corner.
But Man United hit back with two goals in quick succession. First, Pogba put Greenwood behind the Leeds backline with an outstanding pass and the teenager hit a low strike off the far post in the 52nd minute.
Solskjaer’s side had the bit between their teeth and pulled further ahead as goal-line technology ruled Fernandes’ hopeful strike had crossed the line before Ayling could clear.
Things swiftly went awry for Leeds, who were picking the ball out of the back of their net again in the 60th minute.
Victor Lindelof sent a fine, direct ball from the back and Fernandes watched it over his shoulder before rifling it beyond Meslier.
Fred turned home a Pogba cross to apply salt to the wounds in the 68th minute.
This defeat was worse than Leeds’ 6-2 loss suffered at Old Trafford last December, leaving head coach Marcelo Bielsa visibly frustrated on the touchline.
“It was very difficult for us to recover the ball and it was very difficult for us to create any danger,” he said.
“It was for a number of reasons, none of them the high press or the individual performance of a player.”
Bielsa kept England star Kalvin Phillips on the bench after his Euros exertions, meaning Robin Koch started in midfield.
He added: “Phillips is a player who always shines, (but) I don’t think it’s a question of individualities as to why we couldn’t play a more balanced game.”