FA Cup: Manchester United Shock Liverpool in Quarterfinal Classic

There’s no denying that this hasn’t been a good season by the illustrious standards of Manchester United. They won’t be winning the Premier League, the top-4 seems like it will take a borderline miracle to attain, they lost their League Cup crown earlier in the season, and they are out of all European competitions. They’ve been incredibly inconsistent all year, with injuries playing a massive role in their sputtering form. The Red Devils’ last realistic chance at any trophy this season is in the illustrious FA Cup – the oldest single-elimination football tournament in the world. United squeaked by Nottingham Forest at the City Ground 1-0 in the 5th round, which set up an incredibly juicy quarterfinals tie with their hated rivals Liverpool earlier today at Old Trafford. While these two sides have their own rich histories and traditions of winning, title-contenders Liverpool were the heavy favorites to move on to the semifinals at Wembley Stadium.

But under-fire United manager Erik ten Hag and the squad had other plans. United were the dominant team for the first 10 minutes or so, and cashed in on their dominance thanks a rebound finish from midfielder Scott McTominay. They couldn’t add another one in the first half though, and Liverpool struck back twice at the end of the first half via midfielders Alexis Mac Allister and winger/forward Mohamed Salah. United scored via winger Antony dos Santos (playing at left back today) on 87 minutes though, which forced extra time at 2-2. Liverpool then went ahead again on 105 minutes via attacking midfielder Harvey Elliot, only for United to continue to fight back and get a 3rd from winger/forward Marcus Rashford. Finally, in the dying seconds of stoppage time and after a breathless 120 minutes of football, United winger Amad Diallo found the opposite corner with a low finish after a breakaway. Old Trafford erupted in joy as the ball rolled past Scousers keeper Caoimhin Kelleher for 4-3. Diallo ended up being sent off on a second yellow card for removing his shirt during the goal celebration, but it was an absolutely legendary 30ish minute cameo from the Ivorian winger.

I blitzed through the goals and major incidents recap mostly because there are so many other talking points to discuss. For one, ETH may have saved his job next season with this performance. I have long been a defender of ETH because I generally believe his footballing philosophy is one that can win matches, but it was becoming more and more difficult to defend him with each head-scratching lineup or substitution. But today, he got it 100% right. It was extremely unorthodox at times, with numerous players playing out of position and we didn’t seem to have a midfield late on in the match, but it somehow worked. I could have sworn I saw us in a 4-1-5 formation at some point! I also saw Antony at left back, Bruno Fernandes in central defense, and Harry Maguire was effectively a striker! It was ludicrous, but again, it worked. Bringing on Diallo and Antony ended up being brilliant moves as well. It was chaos ball, but maybe some chaos is just what was needed to make the Scousers uncomfortable.

But moreover, I think the big headline from today is not about ETH, nor is it about United beating their biggest rival in a classic football match. The biggest takeaway from today from the perspective of the supporters is that the Red Devils finally showed some fight. They kept trying to win the match and never stopped, and it paid off big time. Far too often this season and last, this has looked like a team that lacked a competitive spirit. Every once in a while they show some spine, but more often than not United have repeatedly shown a lack of backbone in bigger matches once they get punched in the face. Even with a lead, if they concede a cheap goal or a call from the referee doesn’t go their way, they have often just capitulated and lacked a desire to carry on fighting. That did not happen today, however. Indeed, it was just the opposite. They got a somewhat surprising lead, but conceded two very cheap goals just before halftime. It was sadly expected by many (including me) that they would yet again surrender and not really try in the second half. But they came out with dogged determination, Liverpool were a bit sloppy with some of their chances, and they got an equalizer late on to force extra time. They could have easily capitulated again when Liverpool went ahead 3-2 on 105 minutes, but they just kept running forward and getting the ball ahead to the attacking players. Again, it paid off when Rashford made it 3-3. That put them in a position to go and win it, and they took advantage of some questionable tactics by Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp to go and win the match.

Brilliant match today. Absolutely brilliant. Likely the best one during the ETH regime. To beat our biggest rival in the FA Cup quarterfinals as underdogs in the dying seconds of extra time is the stuff dreams are made of. Excellent matches from Rashford, Bruno, McTominay, Maguire, Diallo, midfielder Kobbie Mainoo, winger/forward Alejandro Garnacho, and Antony. Some special recognition to right back (left back?) Diogo Dalot as well, who did not put a foot wrong for 120 minutes. When this team believes in themselves, they have the ability to beat some of the best teams in Europe. Well done to the home supporters at Old Trafford too, who were raucous from start to finish.

It’s true this season has not gone well. It’s true that inconsistency and injuries have plagued the Red Devils all year. It’s true that we are still at the beginning of a massive overhaul that will continue for several more seasons. Today made all of that much easier to digest, though. I believe this will show both the Glazers and new owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe that ETH is the man to guide us through this rebuild and get us back the promised land. All of the problems surrounding the club can be temporarily forgotten, because today we knocked the Scousers out of the FA Cup. Hope the lads get some good celebrating in tonight.

United have been drawn against Championship side Coventry City in the semifinals of the FA Cup, to be played in about a month’s time at Wembley. They have some difficult matches to be played in the Premier League between now and then, but all eyes are now on the weekend of April 20/21. The top 4 would still be a great achievement given how this season has gone, but honestly, if I had to choose, I’d want us to go and win the FA Cup. Let’s turn this crap season into something positive by finishing strongly with a trophy. Manchester City take on Chelsea in the other half of the semifinal.

Glory Glory Man United! Glazers Out!

Manchester United: It’s Been Bad, But Is There Light On the Horizon?

It’s been a while since I last wrote, but truthfully there hasn’t been a lot to write about aside from bad news. Since their victory over Chelsea at Old Trafford on December 6, Manchester United have lost to Bournemouth (bad), lost to Bayern Munich (almost as bad), drew with Liverpool away (not too shabby), then lost again to West Ham (bad). I have been calling for the Red Devils to play with consistency this whole season, and they have responded with consistency – consistently being bad. Be careful what you wish for, I guess.

The biggest change at United in recent weeks is the acquisition of 25% of the club’s ownership stake by British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his company Ineos. This sale has been pending for over a year and many were wondering if it would even happen, but the move was finally announced on Christmas Eve. More on this takeover below.

Things were heading down a losing path yet again today, when they hosted 3rd place Aston Villa at Old Trafford, one of the many fixtures on a busy Boxing Day. The Villans, coached by the ever-capable Frenchman Unai Emery, were up 2-0 by halftime. United looked rather listless as usual, and there was no pattern to their play. Many in the terraces and online were calling for manager Erik ten Hag to be sacked, mostly out of frustration rather than logic. The tactics were unclear, the defense was leaking goals, and there didn’t seem to be any fight in the team. It was shaping up to be another disappointing day, despite the presence of United legends Robin Van Persie and Edwin Van Der Sar in the stands.

But the second half of this match will be one for the memory banks of the United faithful. United were the better team from the resumption of play onward. Winger Alejandro Garnacho had a goal (dubiously) disallowed by VAR on 50 minutes for an alleged offside. He was undeterred by that setback though, and found himself scoring a goal that stood on 57 minutes. Midfielder Bruno Fernandes pressed at the right time and won the ball while Villa were trying to build possession, after which he played a brilliant pass up the left flank onto the run of winger/forward Marcus Rashford. Rashford squared the ball along the ground, and it fell to the feet of the onrushing Garnacho for a relatively simple tap-in back across the face of Emiliano Martinez’s goal. Villa were still up, but the game was very much on! Much better tempo and directness from the Red Devils.

Garnacho wasn’t finished, either. He got United’s equalizer on 71 minutes, and it was the result of another quick-moving and incisive attack. The ball was won in the center circle by midfielder Kobbie Mainoo, who then played it out wide to Garnacho on the right wing. Garnacho brought the ball forward a bit more and then played it even further out to the right to Bruno on an overlapping run. Garnacho then moved more towards the center of the pitch, and Bruno pinged in a cross that was deflected into the exact space Garnacho was running towards. He hit it first time from about 12 yards out, and it took a minor deflection off a Villa defender before hitting the back of Martinez’s net! 2-2!

There was still plenty of time for United to find a winner, and that’s precisely what they did on 82 minutes. They had won a corner, with Bruno swinging in the ball from the right wing in the air. The ball took two deflections off of Villa players before falling directly to the feet of striker Rasmus Højlund. Højlund instinctively swung at the ball with his left foot while it was still in the air, and it banged into the back of the net off the inside of the left hand post. A true striker’s goal – predatory in nature. He was in the right place at the right time, and while it wasn’t a pretty finish, he did exactly what he needed to do in the circumstance. Højlund has scored 5 goals in Europe for United this season, but he had yet to open his domestic account before today. What a time to get your first Premier League goal, too! A late winner in front of the Stretford End at Old Trafford. That’s the stuff dreams are made of! You could see how much it meant to Højlund emotionally, too. The young man was in tears while his teammates and the crowd celebrated all around him. It was a huge relief for him, and everyone was incredibly happy for the lad. After an agonizing final 20 minutes and an even more agonizing 9 (nine!) minutes of stoppage time, the whistle blew and United had their first win in close to 3 weeks.

Well done from the front three in the second half today. Rashford looked like the Rashford of last season, Garnacho turned in a Man of the Match performance on the right wing, and Højlund did well to bag his first Prem goal and the winner. Great game from Bruno as well. He didn’t get on the score sheet, but his tenacity and technique played a role in all three goals. Quick and incisive chance-creation is key to the tactics and style of play of ETH, and it was on full display in the second half. The main takeaway though is that the players upped their tempo and desire today. It’s truly amazing what this team can do when they actually try. We have all the talent and skill a manager could ask for, but desire, passion, and determination have been lacking this season. There’s no reason why United can’t win every game they play if they play with the level of energy and belief they had today in the second half. They need to remember that when they play hard, they usually get a favorable result.

It will be interesting to see what United’s new part-owners do going forward. It was a good start to their tenure today, but there’s still plenty to work on going forward. The challenges to be faced are numerous. While it’s unclear what specific tasks are to be handled by Ineos/Ratcliffe, it seems they will primarily be football-related and less finance-related. The squad needs further revamping, the youth academy needs investment, the medical staff are behind on the times, and Old Trafford is in dire need of repairs and improvements. It’s a daunting task ahead of them to get United back to the top of European club football, but they should be given every opportunity and be afforded patience by supporters. Ratcliffe has a history of doing well in sports business, and more importantly he was a Manchester United supporter as a child. That means he understands what this club what means to people at the local level. He sees it as more than just a money-making venture, something the much-hated Glazers seem to be unable to fathom.

Ratcliffe and his team have taken a good first step in writing an open letter to the Manchester United Supporters Trust (MUST), a prominent fan group that has been leading the vocal criticisms of the Glazer family. In that letter, they made it clear that the results from the past 10 years or so are not acceptable and that he is just as “ambitious” as the club’s supporters are. And while the contents of the letter are important, they are of secondary importance to the mere fact that Ineos/Ratcliffe has taken the time to directly address the supporters. Ratcliffe has been part owner for a grand total of 2 days, and he’s already done more to address the concerns of supporters than the Glazers have for the better part of 18 years. All he had to do was write a letter saying “we hear you, and we’re going to try to fix things”. Of course, being a better owner than the Glazers is a low bar to clear, but he is definitely as emotionally invested in the success of the team as he is financially invested. If the club’s fortunes turn around in the next year or two, one would hope that a full sale of the club would be next on the cards. Ratcliffe will likely help improve things,

Glory Glory Man United! Glazers Out! Happy Boxing Day!

Premier League: A Tale of Two Matches – Newcastle and Chelsea

The past two matches have seen United lose away to Newcastle 1-0, followed by a 2-1 victory over Chelsea at Old Trafford earlier today. The Red Devils looked god-awful against Newcastle at the weekend and probably should have lost by a bigger margin. In contrast, they looked borderline spectacular against Chelsea and probably should have won by more. But there were only four days between these matches, so how can a team like United look so bad in one match and then play so wonderfully in the next one? Well, there’s several reasons…

Location, Location, Location

United have been dismal away from home during the tenure of manager Erik ten Hag. No two ways about it. They haven’t beaten a top-half of the table side away from home since 2021. St. James’ Park in the northeast of England is a cold and dreary place to play, and the fans there always create a tough atmosphere. United’s away form against the big clubs is easily the toughest nut ETH has yet to crack.

At home however, United are a juggernaut. They don’t lose often within the hallowed halls of Old Trafford. Indeed, they have claimed the scalps of some of the biggest clubs in Europe when playing in front of 75,000 screaming United supporters. Old Trafford has been a fortress during ETH’s time in charge, and it’s walls held firm for the most part again today.

The Opposition

Newcastle are a better team than Chelsea, as things stand. Chelsea have tons of new signings and a manager (Mauricio Pochettino) who is still trying to figure out his best XI players. Manager Eddie Howe at Newcastle has his lads drilled exceptionally well and they have the financial backing of an oil state, which has allowed them to bring in some very talented players.

Line-Ups

ETH shuffled the deck quite a bit between the previous match and the one today, largely because he had to. Forwards Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial have been in poor form for weeks now, with Rashford playing particularly poorly in the previous match. Those two players were dropped to the bench in favor of winger Antony dos Santos and striker Rasmus Højlund respectively. Further, midfielder Sofyan Amrabat was given a start, paired with Scott McTominay in midfield.

Højlund and Antony both had stellar games, and Amrabat put in a very good shift as well. Antony won a penalty on 8 minutes that midfielder Bruno Fernandes failed to convert, and even though Højlund has yet to open his Premier League scoring account, he was tireless in his running today and put himself about on the pitch in a way that continually caused problems for Chelsea. Amrabat had a key tackle in the buildup to McTominay’s opener on 19 minutes as well. I am really happy with how Mainoo played when he came on as a substitute. He didn’t do particularly well against Newcastle, but his pairing with Amrabat in the center of the park really seemed to suit him. Mainoo has the energy and athleticism, while Amrabat has a ton of experience playing at the highest levels. Their styles of play compliment each other well.

Effort

You would think that a team full of professional athletes wouldn’t need to be told to play hard and put in good effort. Counter-intuitively though, it seems that’s exactly what was needed. The effort on display from the players in red was easily the biggest contrast to the loss against Newcastle last weekend. The majority of the team was guilty of bad effort last weekend, but I want to talk about a single player specifically.

I don’t know what’s wrong with Rashford. He’s in the “effort” section because he showed zero of it against Newcastle, and when he came on today against Chelsea in the closing minutes, he proceeded to again show zero of it. I just don’t get it. He’s not running anywhere. He walks or jogs when running is definitely required. I know he knows this, but no one is going to be a world-class footballer if they don’t run. The media is rampant with speculation that he’s squabbling with ETH or somehow unhappy with how things are going. I don’t know if that’s true or not, but his lack of effort is totally unprofessional. It’s okay to be frustrated or upset with the manager. It’s okay to not be happy when the team is in inconsistent form. The unacceptable thing is not trying! The professional thing to do would be to go out and give 100% even if you’re frustrated, so that supporters know you’re at least trying. I am a big fan of Rashford and have been since he came up through the United youth academy, but I’m not going to defend his lack of effort anymore.

Since this post is all about contrasts, let’s contrast Rashford’s lack of effort with another maligned United player – center back Harry Maguire. This is a man who was stripped of the captaincy in the off-season, and was only seeing so much playing time this year because of injuries to fellow center backs Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane. I don’t think I’ve seen a player take the amount of stick that Maguire gets on social media every time he makes a mistake. It’s absolutely brutal. Maguire’s season started off extremely rough and the noise around his form was quite loud, but he kept his head down and kept himself focused on the game. He was a rock at the center of defense today, his overall play in the month of November earned him the accolade of Premier League Player of the Month, awarded to him today. Rashford should take note of how Maguire ignored all the noise around him and just focused on working hard and playing hard. Even if Martinez and Varane were suddenly fit to play, it would be hard for ETH to drop Maguire due to his excellent form. Both of them are extremely talented players, but one is displaying focus and determination right now, while the other is not.

Tactics and Execution

Interestingly, the tactics in the Newcastle match and the Chelsea match today were not all that different. ETH does not deviate much from his preferred 4-2-3-1, with the players running a counter-press when out of possession, and building from the back when in possession. In order to effectively play the counter-press, every attacking and midfield player needs to know when to press and on which opposing player. Vitally, the players must be willing to run at the opposition, and not just let them have possession without pressure. If one player doesn’t press effectively, ETH’s system is practically neutered. This is almost exactly what happened Newcastle. We had an attacking player who didn’t feel like running anywhere, and as a result we didn’t create anything for the first 80 minutes.

Højlund, Antony, Bruno, Amrabat, and winger Alejandro Garnacho all executed the tactics wonderfully today. They were coordinated in their press and Chelsea often looked rudderless at times due to it. Amrabat pressing the ball in the attacking third is what led to United’s first goal! They forced Chelsea into a turnover in a dangerous area, and United punished the Blues for it. ETH football in a nutshell. The finishing was poor today and United should have had at least 4 goals, and that has to improve, but the chance creation was so much better today. Credit to McTominay for getting both United goals. The Scotsman is in truly wonderful attacking form this season, and being given license by ETH to roam forward a bit more has suited him well.

ETH has faced some frankly ridiculous media speculation in the past four days that his job may be in jeopardy if United’s poor form continued. The media were trying to generate headlines and clicks of course, but this match should end any wild conjecture that ETH will be sacked soon or that he’s somehow lost the locker room. It’s clear he’s the man to bring us out of this mess. He knows this team is far from perfect and that there is still a ways to go before we are back at the top, but we’re headed in the right direction. He has the tactical nous for the job as has been evidenced, and it seems he has finally learned to drop players in poor form. Man-management is a criminally under-appreciated aspect of what it takes to be the manager of a multi-billion pound football club. You have to be able to manage the often very large egos of professional athletes, and it’s a skill that takes a very deft touch. There is an abundance of evidence that the overwhelming majority of the players believe in him and what he’s trying to do. The Glazers still need to sell the team and leave, but it’s clear we finally have the right manager at the helm.

Conclusion

A changed line-up, better effort, and better execution are the main reasons why United were so much better today against Chelsea than against Newcastle last week. As has been said a thousand times on this blog though, the inconsistency has to stop. I won’t be celebrating this club’s resurrection until we win the Premier League title again, and inconsistent teams do not win titles. Well done against Chelsea today, but if we have another Newcastle away-type match, it means little.

Glory Glory Man United! Glazers Out!

Premier League: United Flatten Chelsea and Qualify for the Champions League!

Manchester United played host to London side Chelsea FC in the penultimate match of the Premier League season earlier today at Old Trafford. United and manager Erik ten Hag knew they needed just one point from this match in order to finish in the top-4 and qualify for the Champions League next season. Contrarily, Chelsea and interim manager Frank Lampard came into the match with very little to play for. It has been an absolutely dismal season by their illustrious standards, as they find themselves in the bottom of half of the table and floundering in 12th place. Lampard fielded an exceptionally young side for this match, probably in an attempt to get some of the younger players experienced going into next year. Given that United have been nearly unbeatable at the Theatre of Dreams this season, most expected the Red Devils to get the result needed and seal the last available CL spot.

The first half was an odd one, but nevertheless overall positive for United. They got the first goal just 6 minutes in, thanks to a well-placed header from midfielder Casemiro. United won a free kick on the left wing, which was played into the box by fellow midfielder Christian Eriksen. No one was near Casemiro when he got his head to it, and after a quick VAR check for offside the goal was permitted to stand. Chelsea keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga had no chance. It wasn’t a technically complicated goal, just poor marking by the Chelsea defense and a good quality ball over the top by Eriksen. Casemiro has now scored in consecutive matches, while also rediscovering some of his magnificent form in his role as a defensive midfielder from earlier in the season.

Chelsea dominated the next 30-35 minutes after that though. They created a litany of chances, but I have to sit back and laugh at their comically poor finishing during this period of the match. Several players missed gilt-edged chances, including winger Mykhailo Mudryk and striker Kai Havertz. Chelsea were doing extremely well to get the ball forward and at getting it into dangerous areas, but they really should have finished some of their chances. They were doing everything right in terms of opening up the United defense, but they couldn’t hit the back of the net to save their lives! This period of play was a microcosm of Chelsea’s awful season: good play in the build-up and chance creation, but atrocious finishing. There was another concern for United when winger Antony dos Santos went down injured after a fairly innocuous-looking challenge, and he was stretchered off and replaced by striker Marcus Rashford. Well wishes to Antony on a speedy recovery.

The Blues’ misery was further compounded however deep in first half stoppage time. Casemiro brought the ball forward and played a sensational no-look, chipped pass out to his right and into the feet of winger Jadon Sancho. Sancho was in a bit of space and looked like he might shoot, but he wisely played it across to the unmarked striker Anthony Martial who tapped in for 2-0 with Kepa stranded. An excellent passing move that was truly against the run of play! Well done to Casemiro and Martial, but special credit to Sancho for making the right decision. He has consistently had struggles with making the right decision at the right time this season, as he usually dawdles on the ball and the chance goes begging. This time though he got it exactly right! 2-0 United at half time, with Chelsea likely demoralized given their opportunities to score.

The second half was much more dominant from United. Midfielder Bruno Fernandes went close first, striking the angle of the crossbar/post after center back Victor Lindelof did well to win the ball high up the pitch. Chelsea were not strong on the ball, but they did well to keep United from scoring again for about 30 minutes or so. However, United did get the decisive 3rd goal on 73 minutes from the penalty spot. Bruno was dancing on the left side of the penalty box, and he beat Chelsea right back Wesley Fofana with a nutmeg. Fofana then stuck a leg out though and tripped Bruno, and of course Bruno went down as if he’d been shot. Referee Stuart Atwell pointed to the spot, and there wasn’t much complaining from the Chelsea players. Bruno stepped up and sent Kepa the wrong way with a low finish to his right. 3-0, and United were now confidently on their way to the top-4!

They weren’t finished however! Just 5 minutes later, Fofana played a ball across his own box that was wayward, and it allowed Bruno to pounce on the ball. He crossed it back towards Rashford in the center of the area, and his touch took it past the last Chelsea defender. Kepa did well to stick out his left leg and save the initial shot, but the rebound fell straight to Rashford. He took it around Kepa with ease and had a tap-in from about a yard out. 4-0! Utter domination in the second half and a thorough beat down of a (usually) competitive rival. A special shoutout to Rashford on scoring his 30th goal in all competitions this season! He is the first United player with a 30 goal season since Robin Van Persie exactly ten years ago.

Chelsea got a consolation goal on 89 minutes from forward João Félix after a fine run and finish which ruined keeper David De Gea’s clean sheet, but it was nothing more than a consolation. This was United’s day through and through. Realistically they could have have had 5 or 6 goals today. Substitute winger Alejandro Garnacho struck the crossbar late on, and substitute midfielder Scott McTominay had a close-range effort saved by Kepa in stoppage time. Atwell blew his whistle shortly after that and United were through to the Champions League next season!

United also moved into 3rd place for the time being, two points ahead of 4th placed Newcastle. There is still one match to play for all teams on Sunday, but the heavy lifting has now been done. 5th-placed Liverpool can no longer mathematically catch them, and the Scousers can look forward to spending their Thursday nights playing in the Europa League next season. It would be nice if United beat Fulham in their remaining match next Sunday to lock up 3rd place, but 3rd vs. 4th matters little in this context. Top-4 was the goal for ETH and the lads at the beginning of the season, and they’ve locked it up with a match to spare. The club can look forward to the revenue generated from these European matches, along with being more easily able to attract top-level talent in the summer. Given how this season started for United with consecutive losses, to be where we are is nothing short of a magnificent achievement for this manager and group of players.

United’s final match of the season is not until June 3rd when they play in the FA Cup Final against Manchester City at Wembley. Due to the importance of the fixture, it will be interesting to see how ETH manages the last Prem game on Sunday. Fulham have naught to play for similar to United, so will he rest all of his usual starters? Will he keep them out there to continue momentum? Either way, the match against City will be extraordinarily difficult. United and Inter Milan are the only two clubs standing between them and the Treble.

I will do a match report for Fulham and the FA Cup Final, and I think I will do another post about the prospective sale of the club early on in the close season. This season is already much, much better than the last one though. Thank you, Mr. Erik ten Hag and his coaching staff!

Glory Glory Man United! Glazers Out!

A Chess Match Against Chelsea Ends in Stalemate

Manchester United traveled south to west London earlier today for a Premier League match with top-4 rivals Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. This fixture has been a tense one for just under 20 years now, as it always seems like United are competing against the Blues for trophies and table positions. Today was no different. A win for either side would plant that club firmly in the top 4. Both managers – United’s Erik ten Hag and Chelsea’s Graham Potter – have been recently appointed and were looking to show what their teams can do against quality opposition. Both managers are highly skilled tacticians, so much attention was paid to the respective formations fielded by them at the start of the match. United were in their usual 4-2-3-1, while Chelsea came out in a 5-3-2/3-5-2.

The match got off to a fairly even start in the first ten minutes, but United began to assert themselves more as the half went on. While our attacks were breaking down against Chelsea’s back line, the possession and ball recovery was top notch. Chelsea struggled to hold possession and keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga was required to make several saves, notably from Marcus Rashford. The best chance falling to winger Antony dos Santos who missed wide from just inside the Chelsea penalty area. He probably should have done better given that he had good space for a shot, and his reaction to this miss indicated that he knows he should have finished it.

Potter saw that his team was being overwhelmed in midfield. The disadvantage to playing with a back 5 usually means your midfield is a little light. The two men in the middle for Chelsea were being overrun by Bruno Fernandes, Casemiro, and Christian Eriksen for United. Potter made an unusual late-first half substitution to fix the issue, bringing on midfielder Mateo Kovacic and converting his back-5 to a more traditional back-4. Kovacic had an instant impact. Chelsea won the ball back more easily, and they maintained some semblance of possession for the first time in the match. ETH was seen on the sideline playing with his tactics board just before the half time whistle as well, trying to figure out his response to that change. The half ended at 0-0, but United were probably the more disappointed side having not scored despite their domination.

Much like the opening 10 minutes, the first 10 minutes of the second half was rather disjointed and there wasn’t much cohesive possession either way. Unfortunately for United though, Chelsea had started growing into the match and were improving significantly with each passing minute. While they struggled to force David De Gea into saves due to some heroic defending from center backs Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez, they were winning corners and free kicks with aplomb. The sustained pressure was nerve-wracking. ETH sent on midfielder Fred for the ineffective Jadon Sancho, and more balance was restored to the match in terms possession and chances. The minutes kept ticking by though, and no goal was forthcoming. The formations of each team were the same, and everyone was man-marking their opposite number. They were cancelling each other out in every way possible. Sadly, Varane appeared to injure his hamstring late on had to be replaced after a herculean effort from the Frenchman on the day.

Chelsea took the lead however from the penalty spot on 87 minutes. Chelsea had won a corner and while the ball was being played in, it looked like United substitute Scott McTominay rugby-tackled Kovacic to the ground inside the box. Normally I am very quick to defend United players and try to see a way in which it’s not a penalty, but this one was hard to argue against. Yes Kovacic went down easily, but replays showed McTominay had both arms wrapped around Kovacic’s midsection before he went down. A referee is going to call that every time, even if the contact is minimal. McTominay has to know to position himself better in that situation. Italian midfielder Jorginho stepped up to the spot and sent De Gea the wrong way for 1-0 to the Blues. It felt so harsh on United, having been the better side in the first half and more than holding their own in the second.

But one thing I will say about this team is that they do not quit. Last year, this team would have stopped trying. They would have mentally quit at after going behind. But whatever ETH tells them week-to-week about not quitting, it’s certainly sunk in. The fact that there was six minutes of stoppage time also seemed to galvanize the lads a bit. It was the 94th minute and United were passing the ball around the perimeter of the Chelsea penalty area, looking for an equalizer. The ball was passed to left back Luke Shaw, who was in space in the left channel about 40 yards from the goal. He played a cross over the top into the box, where both Casemiro and McTominay leapt for it. Casemiro got good contact, and sent the ball back across Kepa and just over the line. Kepa tried to clear it quickly to make it seem like the ball never crossed the line, but the goal-line technology system indicated to the referee that the ball had crossed. And what a celebration from the lads! Casemiro roared with joy while being mobbed by teammates, and Martinez actually hurled himself into the arms of away supporters while screaming. Absolute scenes! You could see how much it meant to all of them.

Chelsea were sorry to have conceded so late, but for United to not get anything out this match would have felt like an injustice. It’s true that we should have done better in the first half given the dominance, but that late equalizer is a real spoonful of sugar. It’s only a draw on the score sheet, but psychologically this is going to feel like a win. Any time you go to Stamford Bridge and get something from it, it’s a good day. The wasted chances from United were further proof that a striker is needed in January.

The main takeaways from today are that both Chelsea and United have some tactically brilliant managers. All the changes made by the both of them indicates an ability to respond and adapt when Plan A doesn’t work. ETH had the edge in the first half, and Potter had the edge in the second. Another takeaway is that Martinez might be the signing of the summer. He is an absolute madman, and United have needed someone like him at the back for ages. Being a center-back was traditionally reserved for the biggest and toughest men on the pitch, and while Martinez is lacking in physical size he more than makes up for it with his aggression and shithousery. Absolutely gutted for Varane too. Hopefully it’s not a serious injury for him with the World Cup coming up, but his reaction to the injury indicated that it’s probably not good. Credit to Victor Lindelof for performing well off the bench in a cameo appearance.

United remain in 5th just a point behind Chelsea in 4th, but if Newcastle win against Tottenham tomorrow they will leapfrog both teams into 4th. United have taken 5 points from a possible 9 in these past three matches, and the schedule now eases up a little bit. There are only four United matches in total between now and the start of the World Cup; two in the Prem and two in the Europa League. Domestic leagues across the world will go on a pause after November 13, and resume just after Christmas. Up next for United is a Europa League group match with Sheriff Tiraspol at Old Trafford on Oct. 27th.

Victory at Old Trafford Over Tottenham

Manchester United hosted Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford today in their 10th match of the Premier League season. Tottenham, sometimes known as Spurs, travelled north in good form thanks to players like England striker Harry Kane and South Korean winger Son Heung-Min. They also have a trophy-winning manager with a ton of experience in Antonio Conte, so it’s not much of a mystery as to why they started the match tonight in 3rd place. The Red Devils meanwhile were primarily looking to get some goals scored, as that has been a struggle for the past 2-3 matches under Erik ten Hag. United were definitely the better side against Newcastle at the weekend, but they couldn’t find the back of the net.

Encouragingly, United were on the front-foot from the off. Far too often this season they have started slow, and it’s been to their disadvantage. But the opening 25 minutes or so was all Red Devils in this match. They had all of the possession and were creating all the scoring chances. Winger Antony dos Santos, striker Marcus Rashford, and midfielder Bruno Fernandes all had good efforts saved by Spurs keeper Hugo Lloris in that span of time. The style of play was encouraging, and even though the first half ended goalless, you felt that a goal was coming. Spurs had deployed a back-5 when out of possession, and that can make it difficult to break them down. But breaking them down and creating space for a shot wasn’t the issue in the first half for United. The issue was the insanely good form from Lloris and wasted chances. I’m very impressed with the first half display from a midfield and defensive point of view, though. Spurs couldn’t get on the ball for any sustained period of pressure and were constantly losing possession thanks to the tenacity of the press from United.

The breakthrough eventually came for United early on in the second half. Center back Lisandro Martinez won a header inside the center circle, which he played forward in the air towards Bruno. Bruno ran forward instantly and was quickly joined in attack. He spotted Antony in space out to his right and played him the ball, after which Antony cross the ball along the edge of the 18 yards box to fellow winger Jadon Sancho. Sancho took a touch and then laid it off for the onrushing Fred, who swept the ball towards the goal from just outside the edge of the area. His right-footed shot took a big deflection Spurs center back Ben Davies, which wrong-footed Lloris who was powerless to do anything except watch the ball roll into the left corner of the goal. A bit fortuitous to be sure, but credit to Fred for having the temerity to try the shot despite the fact that he’s not known as a goal-scorer. United were good value for the goal as well, having been the far more dominant side.

I thought Tottenham would step their intensity having gone down, but it must be said that they really didn’t provide much of a response. Indeed, it was United who got the next goal on 69 minutes (nice), and it was a real beauty from Bruno. Antony cut inside in the final third and played the ball toward Bruno, who was running towards the Spurs penalty area. One of their defenders met the ball first, but cleared it off Bruno’s shins which kept the chance alive. Fred attempted to take the ball around another Spurs defender with a touch, but they got a tackle in that fell straight to Bruno. Bruno then hit a curler from just inside the edge of the area that a diving Lloris couldn’t get to, and the ball flew into the right hand corner. A small amount luck was involved in this goal as well in terms of it falling directly to Bruno, but take nothing away from the strike. Pure class from the Portuguese attacking midfielder.

With a 2-0 lead and Spurs offering nothing going forward, the match felt won. Spurs were able to generate a little more possession thanks to subs from Conte and an overall higher level of urgency, but United keeper David De Gea was never severely tested. Most of the time Spurs would lose possession in midfield thanks to the press, but even if they managed to play around it, the back-4 were on hand to clear away any danger. United had a third goal questionably ruled out for offside late on, but there were no additional big chances and United won 2-0.

I’m not being hyperbolic when I say that this was the best match for United under ETH, and our best match overall in the past two years or so. The tactical plan was perfect and the players executed it to near-perfection. Big performances from Fred, Bruno, Martinez, Casemiro, Raphael Varane, Diogo Dalot, and Luke Shaw. Rashford had some poor finishing again but he continues to do everything else right. We’ve beaten big clubs before of course, but the manner in which it was done today is why the performance was so good. Kane and Son are fantastic players, but neither of them so much as got a sniff of the goal. Kane was harassed by midfielders as soon as he got on the ball every single time, and that prevented him from being the playmaker in the center of the park that he likes to be. To keep those two as quiet as they were today is an impressive feet. It wasn’t just a clean sheet and a win, it was a clean sheet and win with a bit of authority to it. Now that they have shown they are capable of producing such a result, the key is going to be to replicate it going forward.

United remain 5th in the Premier League table with this win, but they are two points closer to 4th as Chelsea dropped points today after a draw. Speaking of, the Blues are next up on the fixture list. United travel to west London on Saturday for a match with them at Stamford Bridge. It’s a tough place to play, but United will be in a confident mood after today’s win.

Glory Glory Man United!

Lionesses Demolish Norway at Euro 2022; Club Transfer News Roundup

I’ve been guilty of making a very large mistake – not paying a lot of attention to the England women’s team at Women’s Euro 2022. I’ve been checking scores once results are over, but that’s really about it. Not anymore though! The Lionesses are legit trophy challengers this tournament. Many of the pundits are regarding them as the most complete team, and they really showed that today against a Norwegian squad that’s ranked among the best in the world.

Many recall the USA hitting Thailand for 13 at the last Women’s World Cup, and while that was undoubtedly impressive, England’s 8 (eight!) to 0 (nil) victory today over Norway at Amex Stadium in Brighton, UK was arguably even more so. Along with France and England, the Norwegians were favorites to win this tournament and have one of the best players in the world in striker Ada Hegerberg. To beat a squad like this so thoroughly really shows the class England have at all 11 positions and on the bench.

England were all over them from start to finish. Pressing very effectively, and Norway could not figure out what to do about it. Forward Beth Mead earned her first hat trick of the tournament today, while stalwart forward Ellen White contributed two goals as well. It was 6-0 to England at half time! Things did kick off with a soft penalty awarded to England, but that does not excuse the Norwegians from allowing seven more goals after that. This was the biggest victory by any team – men or women – at the Euros ever.

Coupled with their 1-0 victory over Austria last week and their now massive goal difference, England have effectively won Group A and will move on to the knockout rounds. The formality of the final group match against minnows Northern Ireland remains, but England manager Sarina Wiegman now has the luxury of rotating her squad before the next match.

Come on England!!!

*****

On the men’s side of things, pre-season is about to kick off for Manchester United, who are currently on a tour of southeast Asia. It has been a spicy close season and transfer window indeed, most notably for who United have failed to sign. Due to our own inability to complete a transfer swiftly and the fact that United will not be in the Champions League next season, a lot of the top shelf talent has gone to our rival clubs. Manchester City have signed all-world striker Erling Haaland and midfielder Kalvin Phillips, Liverpool have signed striker Darwin Nunez, while Arsenal and Tottenham have strengthened their midfield and attacking options respectively as well.

United have so far lost more players than they have signed. Nemanja Matic, Juan Mata, Paul Pogba, Jesse Lingard, and Andreas Pereira have all signed elsewhere, will sign elsewhere, or have retired from the game. While we did need a clear out and to offload some bloated contracts, the other half of a competent transfer strategy is replacing those departing players while improving the squad. Not sure United has done that, yet.

The Red Devils have officially signed left back Tyrell Malacia from Dutch side Feyenoord, and they appear very close to announcing the signing of attacking midfielder Christian Eriksen from Brentford. United also appear to be in for Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong, but the process has taken so long and the rumors flying every which way has made this saga about as clear as mud. Barcelona and United are currently two of the most poorly-run clubs in the world. Indeed, United would arguably be the worst if not for the stunning incompetence of the Barcelona board of directors. There seems to be a contractual issue at the forefront, and it’s unclear whether De Jong even wants to play for United next season. I understand he may be important to new manager Erik ten Hag’s plans, but what’s the point in dragging out this whole process if he doesn’t want to be here?

What to do about Cristiano Ronaldo has also caused some head-scratching it seems around Carrington training ground. Ronaldo will be 38 by the end of next season, but the argument could easily be made that he was United’s best outfield player last season. He was leading scorer after all, and seemed to win matches on his own at times. But now he is supposedly not happy with the lack of transfers, and there are rumors that he has requested to leave Old Trafford. That could happen, but two major obstacles are in the way. For one, Ten Hag has explicitly stated that Ronaldo is in his plans for the upcoming season. Second, and this is potentially the bigger obstacle, are Ronaldo’s massive weekly wages. He is rumored to be on a whopping £510,000/week contract, and there are simply not many clubs that can afford to pay him that much. He probably won’t take a pay cut unless he really wants to leave. It is important to note that Ronaldo is not currently with the squad in southeast Asia, as the club has given him leave to address “family” issues. Whether he stays or not will be interesting. Chelsea are rumored to be the only destination that checks all the boxes, but would Ronaldo really leave United for a competitive rival? Is he that much of a mercenary? Many fans want to believe he isn’t, but as we all know, money talks.

United still need a true defensive midfielder in my opinion, but that’s been the case for about two years now. Ten Hag seems to have the lads training hard every day, but I have to question whether he feels supported by ownership and club officials. There’s a lot of pressure on him to succeed at United, but that will be near impossible if he is not given the support from ownership that he needs.

Well, At Least They Didn’t Lose

Manchester United hosted Chelsea today at Old Trafford in the Premier League. It was largely an affair to forget due to the lack of quality on display from both sides, particularly from the Red Devils. Chelsea dominated possession in the first half but couldn’t score due to some heroic saves from United keeper David De Gea but also some admittedly poor finishing from the west London club. United looked like they’d rather be anywhere else.

There was however a lot more energy in the match from both sides in the second half, and it was Chelsea who deservedly went ahead on the hour mark via left back Marcos Alonso. A cross from the right wing found him largely unmarked about 12 yards from the far post, and he slotted the ball home past De Gea into the opposite corner. United’s defending had been fairly poor the whole match and that was the case yet again for the goal. This time though De Gea couldn’t bail them out.

United did find an equalizer though just two minutes later via the ageless wonder Cristiano Ronaldo. United had pressed Chelsea up the pitch, with midfielder Nemanja Matic winding up on the ball in a forward area. He spotted Ronaldo on the shoulder of a Chelsea defender and played the ball over the top. Ronaldo got an exquisite first touch on the pass and rifled a shot into the roof of Chelsea keeper Edouard Mendy’s net from a tight angle. Ronaldo has now scored 23 goals for United this season, and along with De Gea he is easily the club’s best player. Anyone who thinks that Ronaldo is somehow the problem with this team can take a long walk off a short pier. Interestingly, this is only the second goal he has scored against Chelsea in his illustrious career, with the other being in the 2008 Champions League final (which United eventually won, by the way).

There were some more chances for Chelsea after that and United created the occasional half chance as well, but the match kind of petered out after the madness of two goals in two minutes. Half chances for both sides, the better chances going to Chelsea. The match finished 1-1 and and somewhat concerningly, the best players on the pitch for United were the old guard of Ronaldo, Matic, and Juan Mata who came on as a sub. They played well in the 2nd half today, but you can’t bank on three players all in their mid-30s to play well in every match and it certainly isn’t sustainable looking ahead to the future. Maddeningly, Marcus Rashford seems to have forgotten how to play the game. Bruno Fernandes has no confidence in himself right now. Our fullbacks were frequently out of position, which Chelsea were only too happy to exploit. The first half was an appalling display of effort from everyone not named Ronaldo or De Gea. It is true the second half was better overall, but there still leaves a lot to be desired. Best of luck to new manager Erik ten Hag in sorting this lot out.

The match was also marred by United fan protests both outside and inside the stadium, once again towards the owners of the club. It was eerie to see so many empty seats at Old Trafford at kickoff in a Premier League match against Chelsea. As always, the author of this blog supports all protests against the Glazer family as owners of Manchester United. The reasons for which have been spelled out in numerous posts before this one. The Glazers need to sell the club and stop milking it for money! Glazers Out!

Champions League Draw + Match Postponement

The draw for the Round of 16 in this year’s Champions League tournament took place on Monday, in which Manchester United were drawn against Spanish side Atletico Madrid. I’ll go into the matchup more in a second, but a quick summary would be that Atletico are a very good side defensively and they have the superstars in attack to beat anyone. They routinely beat teams with bigger budgets and they have a manager in Diego Simeone who has won La Liga multiple times.

The headline from the draw though was that it actually had to be done twice by UEFA after it was discovered that there was an error in the computer software that put the teams into the various pots needed for the draw. Originally Liverpool were given Atletico, but they can’t play them in the Round of 16 given that they played in the same group during qualification. So the entirety of the draw was done again, and this time United were given the difficult prospect of dealing with the scrappy Madrid-based club.

Many people (myself included) from all over Europe have suspected for many years that the draw for the Round of 16 is somehow rigged or otherwise unfair, and this “error” with the computer software only adds fuel to the fires of conspiracy theory. United fans were particularly aggrieved to draw Atletico, when we were theoretically supposed to be given an easier draw due to winning our group. Chelsea however did not win their group but were drawn against French side Lille, one of the weaker teams left in the tournament. Manchester City did indeed win their group, but still were given another weaker side in Sporting Lisbon. I am happy that United avoided Paris St. Germain for once, but Atletico presents fierce opposition. It just seems that United are routinely getting screwed by the draw, while our domestic rivals get easier competition regardless of where they finish in their groups.

Whatever is going on with UEFA, it smells fishy. This is an organization that doesn’t have a clean history of promoting fair play either, so the calls for the draw process to be re-evaluated are only going to get louder. United do have a solid chance to beat Atletico of course, and they do have the advantage of having the 2nd leg of the tie played at Old Trafford. But, it will be difficult to stop or slow down the likes of Luis Suarez, Antoine Griezmann, and Joao Felix. All three of those players are world-class on their day, but as mentioned Atletico are a club that pride themselves on rock-solid defending. Simeone has turned their stadium into a fortress, and despite some stuttering form in La Liga they are still 4th in the table. This is an intriguing and tricky fixture that will give United manager Ralf Rangnick plenty to think about.

United will play Atletico at Wanda Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid on Wednesday February 23, 2022 with the return fixture in Manchester on March 15, 2022.

***

In more immediate news, United’s match away to Brentford FC that was supposed to be played today has been postponed due to an outbreak of COVID-19 among the United players and training staff. It is unclear who has the virus, how many cases there are, or even how severe each case is. The match has not been re-scheduled as of the writing of this post, but it will be eventually. This is one of those times when the real world crosses over with football, and it must be addressed even though this is primarily a football blog.

First, nothing but well-wishes and a speedy recovery to those afflicted and I hope no one suffers any long term effects. Second, I am sick of this virus and the whole bloody pandemic. Sick of it. It’s affected everything in our lives, not just the cancellation of football matches. And of course, I am not against the postponement or even cancellation of a match if it cannot be played safely. Football is a game after all, and matters of life and death should never be prioritized below a game that we play and watch for fun. However, I am sick of the fact that the pandemic appears to be unending. If you can get vaccinated, do it. Wear a mask. Stay socially distant from other people. We all need to do everything we can do to end this pandemic, but too many people are thinking of themselves first. The “me first” attitude is rampant in America, but its clearly a problem worldwide as well.

Further, the late announcements postponing these matches are causing financial strain on the fans. People book train tickets and hotels for long trips (such as the one from Manchester to Brentford in west London) and oftentimes these tickets and reservations are non-refundable. Fans need to be given as much notice as possible for when a match is going to be postponed so they have the best chance at getting their hard-earned money returned to them. If football really is nothing without the fans, the Premier League needs to ensure that fans are taken care of. The fact that there does not seem to be a hard rule about what circumstances require a postponement is part of the problem.

United are scheduled to take on Brighton & Hove Albion at Old Trafford next Saturday, but it remains unclear if the match will go ahead as planned.

United Held by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge

The Red Devils traveled down to west London earlier today to take on Premier League leaders and reigning European champions Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. United were underdogs going into this match given their horrendous recent form in the Prem, and caretaker manager Michael Carrick knew that it would be his last match in charge thanks to the appointment of interim manager Ralf Rangnick on Thursday.

Carrick made the bold decision to drop Cristiano Ronaldo to the bench and play without a true central striker. Technically the line-up was a 4-3-1-2 with Bruno Fernandes playing behind Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho, and it seemed like Carrick wanted to accomplish two things – 1) keep it at 0-0 for as long as possible, and 2) flood Chelsea out of midfield so they can’t as easily keep possession and create chances through the middle of the pitch.

One of those objectives was largely achieved, and the other was largely not. Thanks to some heroics from United’s time and time again savior David De Gea, Chelsea were not able to score in the first 45 minutes. However, they were dominating the match in every other possible statistic. They had an overwhelming amount of possession, more attempts, more shots on target, and more corner kicks. It was serious pressure almost from the opening whistle. United were without usual starting defenders Harry Maguire (suspension) and Luke Shaw (injury), but their replacements Eric Bailly and Alex Telles weren’t really having too many issues. It was United’s right hand side of the defense however, in particular Aaron Wan-Bissaka, that had the worst time of it. He was beaten for shots on target at least twice and generally did not play well. To compound matters, United habitually gave the ball away and invited pressure that Chelsea were only too happy to apply. While De Gea did make several key saves, it must be said that Chelsea’s finishing was generally poor as well.

The second half got underway with more Chelsea pressure, but United were the ones to break the deadlock on 50 minutes via Sancho. Bruno cleared the ball about 50 yards through the air up the pitch, and it fell directly to Chelsea midfielder Jorginho. The usually sure-footed Italian unintentionally controlled the ball with a very heavy touch and the ball was pounced on by an onrushing Sancho with Rashford along side him. Jorginho was taken out of the play by being off-balance, and United found themselves with two forwards clean through on Edouard Mendy’s goal. Rashford stayed wide of Sancho in case he wanted to pass, but Sancho used him as a decoy while he calmly dribbled the ball forward and slotted past a stranded Mendy for 1-0. I was shocked that a player of Jorginho’s quality made such a calamitous error, but it just goes to show that even the best are still human and they can make mistakes. A real smash-and-grab goal!

For the next ten minutes or so, United were more in the ascendancy. All of a sudden the passes started stringing together more easily, and it was easier to win the ball off Chelsea. Confidence is key in this sport, and there is nothing that gives a big shot of confidence like a goal. However, all of that came to a screeching halt when Wan-Bissaka was adjudged to have fouled Chelsea defender Thiago Silva in the United penalty box. He was attempting to clear a bouncing ball but he kicked the back of Silva’s ankle instead. Referee Anthony Taylor awarded a penalty, which Jorginho dispatched fairly easily from the spot. He got to redeem himself for his earlier error, and at 1-1 on 60 minutes I was concerned that United were in danger of surrendering completely. For me the foul itself was a penalty, but there were questions about whether or not Chelsea should have been awarded the corner from which the foul resulted. Chelsea may have gotten their equalizer anyway, but messing up the decision of corner vs. goal kick is inexcusable in today’s game. If we can have VAR for fouls and offside calls, why can’t we have it for everything else?

Chelsea resumed their dominant display of possession and attempts after they scored, but again did not manage to create many dangerous chances or force De Gea into difficult saves. United couldn’t forge anything despite the introduction of Ronaldo on 64 minutes, and some questions will be asked about his performance today in particular. He was isolated for most of his time on the pitch and I don’t think he had many meaningful contributions. How he fits into the counter-pressing system of Rangnick will be interesting to see. United did create one half-chance on 80 minutes or so when midfielder Fred won the ball high up the pitch, but he couldn’t find the proper pass and ended up lobbing the ball straight to Mendy. Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger had a dangerous chance to win it in stoppage time, but again the finish was wanting and he skied it over De Gea’s bar. The match ended 1-1, with it feeling like more of a positive for United than it did for Chelsea.

If you had offered United fans a draw beforehand, they’d have taken it happily. But it is always disappointing to score first and then give away a lead, even against a superior side. The plan by Carrick almost worked, and he would argue that it worked well enough. Carrick can pat himself on the back for these past two matches. A satisfactory job, in the end. The win over Villarreal in Spain was massive and spoiling Chelsea’s day at Stamford Bridge provides some confidence in the lads for Rangnick to build upon and work with. There is a lot of talent in this team, and even more players will be available once they recover from injury.

Rangnick is expected to be on the touchline next Thursday evening at Old Trafford when United take on Arsenal in another Premier League match. It will take a few matches to fully implement his ideal first team, formation, and tactics, but I am excited to see how we are different from whatever it was we were doing previously. United have 4 matches in 10 days, so he will be getting a baptism by fire in the English game. Whatever he decides, I’d like to see Wan-Bissaka and Bruno given a rest if possible. I think a match on the bench will help them recover and get them back into better form.

United now sit 8th in the Premier League table, 12 points back of leaders Chelsea and 5 points adrift of the top 4.