End of Summer Review: Women’s World Cup Reactions; Manchester United Season Preview

We are at the business end of the Women’s World Cup, with the semifinals all set to go. This tournament has been filled with surprises and upsets, which is indicative of a levelling playing field. Perennial favorites such as USA, Germany, Norway, and Brazil are all already out of the tournament, and we are left with four teams who have refreshingly never won the Women’s World Cup. Spain will play Sweden on Tuesday, with England pitted against co-host nation Australia on Wednesday. The matches will be played overnight in the United States and early in the morning Europe time. While the kickoff times have been absolutely brutal for anyone living in the USA, that’s really the only complaint anyone can have. The drama and level of competition in these matches has been nothing short of fantastic. England’s penalty shootout against Nigeria in the Round of 16 was electric, only for it to be topped by the longest penalty shootout in World Cup history (men or women) between Australia and France earlier today. 20 total penalties were taken before Australia finally won!

England have not been at their best so far this tournament in terms of style and flair, but they continue to win matches thanks to thoroughly resilient defensive performances and holding their nerve at the right moments. Pre-tournament injuries were always going to present issues to England this tournament, and unfortunately they have dealt with more player unavailability as the tournament has gone on. Superstar midfielder Kiera Walsh injured herself in the group stage and is not playing at 100%, while Lionesses winger and leading scorer this tournament Lauren James was suspended for this match and will also miss the semifinal against Australia after a red card in the Round of 16. England are fortunately blessed with strength in depth and experience at major tournaments, but they will need every ounce of willpower to get past the Australians in Sydney on Wednesday. The match atmosphere in the quarterfinal earlier today against Colombia was decidedly anti-England, but that will be amplified times ten in the match against the host nation and former British colony. The Matildas are in their first ever World Cup semifinal, and they will do all they can to secure a final on home soil.

But what happened to the Americans? They were the defending champs and a favorite to win it again this year before the tournament started. But they went out in the Round of 16 on penalties to Sweden, after struggling to make it out of their group. While their early exit was joyous to those of us who find USWNT fans’ arrogance and exceptionalism off-putting, it was certainly a major disappointment to a team that is filled to the brim with raw talent. Many casual “fans” who don’t follow the game closely pointed to the team’s political activism and collective attitude as reasons for the loss. That’s potentially a small part of the reason, but a much bigger on-the-pitch issue was their awful tactics. They seemed to be intent on walking the ball into the net, or in the alternative, waiting on a moment of individual brilliance to save them. There did not appear to be a coherent tactical plan from (soon to be former) manager Vlatko Andonovski. His substitutions usually did not make sense, and poor finishing from good chances didn’t help either. As referenced above, the playing field is much more level now in terms of talent and player development, and the Americans failed to take that into account. The result is a lackluster early exit.

Quick shoutouts to South Africa, Jamaica, Nigeria, Colombia, and Morocco. Everyone expected those five teams to go out early in the tournament, but they all defied expectations by making it to the knockout rounds.

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Manchester United have completed their preseason tour, and the Premier League is officially back underway. The Red Devils’ first match of the new season is not until Monday 8/14 against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Old Trafford, but all other Premier League teams played today or will play tomorrow. My first post-match article will be for the 8/14 match.

This summer transfer window has been a very successful one from United’s point of view. Refreshingly, there are still three weeks left in the window and United have already completed three key signings, a far cry from their usual methods of waiting until the very end of the summer before making a desperation signing. One gets the sense that manager Erik ten Hag has been the main impetus and driving force behind getting all of these transfers done. At the end of last season I said we needed a goalkeeper, a a ball-carrying midfielder, and a striker. As of the beginning of August, we have signed a goalkeeper (Andre Onana), a ball-carrying midfielder (Mason Mount), and a striker (Rasmus Højlund). While Højlund is young and will not be available until early September due to injury, his ability to find the back of the net is something United desperately needed. I cannot count the number of chances we created last year that weren’t scored due to poor finishing.

Given that the window is not closed yet, it seems there will be additional signings made to cover some of the departing players. Midfielder Fred, defenders Harry Maguire, Alex Telles, Phil Jones, Axel Tuanzebe, Eric Bailly, winger Anthony Elanga, and goalkeeper David De Gea all left Old Trafford this summer. It’s a massive clearing out, with the goal being to bring some balance to the weekly wage bill and also to make room for players who better fit ETH’s tactical system. De Gea and (former club captain) Maguire are the most obvious examples of this. Both were on massive wages, yet neither really fit the club’s overall football philosophy. It’s a tough decision to let them go, but I believe it’s the correct one. I’d like to thank all of these players for their services to United and I wish them all the best. United are heavily linked with midfielder Sofyan Amrabat and defender Benjamin Pavard, both of which could still come to Old Trafford before the end of August to replace some of the outgoing players.

United need to aim for the Premier League title this season. It has been over a decade since they last won it, and we finally have the manager and the squad to achieve it. Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal, and even Newcastle will present staunch opposition, but there is no reason why a team with this level of talent can’t make a title push. I think the main thing supporters want to see is improvement to our away form, which was horrendous against the “top 6” clubs last season. Moreover, it is no longer enough to shoot for the top-4 and being happy with meeting that goal. We need to be winning trophies. A deep run in the Champions League and one of the domestic cups is also expected. I am sick and tired of watching Man City win everything, like they did last year.

Unfortunately, there are no major updates on the sale of the club. Indeed, it looks more and more likely every day that the despised Glazer family will stay in control. They were supposedly close to selling over the summer, but it’s very unclear just how genuine those intentions were. They still need to go, and fan groups are planning protests throughout the season that will not stop until the leeches have finally left our club alone.

Speaking of protests, there is another batch of controversy brewing among supporters, and it has to do with the potential reinstatement of winger/forward Mason Greenwood to the team. Greenwood has been away from the club for the better part of two years, having been accused of domestic violence and sexual assault from his former (current?) girlfriend, and many have called for him to never wear a United shirt ever again. His criminal charges over the matter have been dropped, but many in the court of public opinion have already deemed him guilty based on social media videos posted by Greenwood’s girlfriend. The author of this blog is not qualified to make a judgment either way as to the veracity of the claims, but I think it is for the best if Greenwood went to play somewhere else. Whether the allegations are true or not, they will be discussed every time he touches the ball. This is the kind of locker room distraction that can really hurt team chemistry, and Greenwood (despite his obvious natural talents) was supposedly not one for team camaraderie anyway. The club should listen to the open letter posted by a female supporters group and terminate his contract permanently.

Here’s to the Red Devils in 2023/2024! Glazers Out!

Mid-Summer Roundup: England Success and Big Changes for United

Even though it’s the close season for all the major European leagues, that does not mean the past few weeks have been devoid of action. Quite the contrary, actually!

First things first, congratulations to the U-21 England men’s team for winning the U-21 European Championships! A great tournament by those lads. They didn’t concede a single goal in six tournament matches and beat Spain in 1-0 in the final earlier today. The hero of the final was Burnley’s 19 year-old goalkeeper James Trafford (what a name!) who pulled off a miraculous double save in the 98th minute. He saved the initial penalty, and then the follow up as well! Super proud of these lads, and it will be big going forward. England needs players who know how to win, and it won’t be long before several of these players earn a call-up to the senior team. This experience is invaluable for them and I’m always happy to see England winning trophies.

The senior team also had a successful June, albeit on a much smaller scale. They won their two Euro 2024 qualifiers, beating minnows Malta 4-0 on June 16. They then had a more impressive 7-0 victory over North Macedonia at Old Trafford on June 19th. England are currently top of their qualifying group with a 100% win record, and look to be firmly in the driver’s seat to qualify for next summer’s tournament in Germany. Of course, qualification has historically not been England’s problem. The Three Lions are expected to qualify for these tournaments. The real test will be at the tournament when the pressure is highest and the opposition is of higher quality!

Last bit on England – the women’s senior side is about to start play at Women’s World Cup 2023 starting July 22nd. The tournament for the ladies is in Australia and New Zealand this year, which means their matches are on at ungodly hours in the USA. UK-based fans will have an easier time watching, though. I do plan on covering this tournament as these ladies deserve it, but the summaries will come well after each match has ended. They are without superstar Beth Mead due to injury unfortunately, but as reigning European Champions they are without doubt one of the favorites to lift the trophy at the end of the tournament. I may also cover the US Women’s team, as a majority of my readers are Americans. Good luck to the Lionesses though!

Right, on to Manchester United. The players reported for pre-season training earlier this week. Some new faces were present, and some old faces were not. Manager Erik ten Hag is actively working to shape the squad according to his vision, and that means a lot of personnel changes. Midfielder Mason Mount was signed from Chelsea about two weeks ago for £50 million plus another £5m in performance-based add-ons. Midfield reinforcements were needed, and Mount is a player who will fit ETH’s overall philosophy given how well he presses and creates chances. There were a few eyebrows raised when he was given the iconic no. 7 shirt, however. Not sure I agree with that. Supposedly it was part of the reason why he signed, but that number comes with a lot of pressure as some of United’s best players have worn it. It’s also been traditionally reserved for wingers and forwards, of which Mount is neither. He’s also never even so much as kicked a ball in a United shirt, which is odd given that no. 7 is usually a reward for a player who’s done well for us previously. This is still a good signing to be sure, but I do hope he lives up to the pressure of the shirt.

In bittersweet news, goalkeeper David De Gea announced his departure from the club earlier today. His contract was set to expire and it seemed like ETH and the football directors were willing to move on from him. There’s a good amount of sense to this, despite how it may look. Why would United allow a keeper who just won the Golden Gloves last season to leave? For one, his wages were far too high. He would have had to agree to a wage reduction to stay on, which is something most players would not do at age 32. Further, despite his stellar shot-stopping abilities, his style of play does not fit with ETH’s system. He routinely makes the wrong decision when distributing the ball out from the back. He also does not command his penalty area well. The modern keeper has to be comfortable coming out of the box to clear long balls, as well as collecting crosses. Too often De Gea allowed a dangerous cross in to the box and has had to be bailed out by the defense or his own shot-stopping ability. In previous seasons he was also mostly free from mistakes, but he had several poor errors last season that could signify that he is on the downward slope of his career.

But let’s not end this on a negative. De Gea doesn’t deserve that. He’s been at this club since 2011 and was the last player still on the team from the Sir Alex Ferguson era. He’s been our undisputed number one keeper virtually that entire team. He’s won the Premier League, FA Cup, Europa League, two League Cups, and was our Player of the Season four times. He’s an absolute legend and deserves all the respect of every United supporter. It’s time for him to go now, but I will extend a hearty “gracias por todo” to our Big Brave Spanish Dave! I wish him nothing but success wherever he goes.

A new goalkeeper was needed in the summer no matter what De Gea ended up doing, and in that vein United appear to be very close to signing keeper Andre Onana from Inter Milan. It’s not an official signing yet, but Inter need the money and we need a new number one keeper. Onana appears to be the perfect choice for an ETH-coached team. The 27 year-old Cameroonian is exceptional with his feet, he helped Inter reach the Champions League final last season, and he kept his side in that match for quite a lot longer than they realistically should have been. The Italian league is generally not as fast as the Prem so there may be some time needed for adjustments, but Onana is likely the best option realistically available. Here’s to hoping he signs soon so he can join the club for the preseason tour!

Lastly, the sale of Manchester United by the Glazer family is still dragging on and generating headlines. The Glazers seem to have finally realized how unpopular they are (maybe?), and have allegedly been trying to sell the team for a few months now. The problem with figuring out what’s happening with this sale is that everything is speculation and conjecture. A British billionaire named Sir Jim Ratcliffe has supposedly made a bid, but so has Sheikh Jassim, the former Prime Minister of Qatar. It’s been back and forth for at least two months now, and sometimes it’s even unclear if the Glazers are actually selling or not. I personally think all football clubs should be owned collectively by the fans, but that scenario is not realistic in this situation. There will likely be a new billionaire in charge of United soon, and whoever it is I am hoping the situation resolves itself quickly. We need consistency from ownership and investment in the club’s infrastructure, and right now neither of those things are happening. The Glazers need to get their act together and actually do something that benefits this club for once! Sell the team! If they eventually do, I’ll do a separate post with a bit of background on the new ownership.

The 2023/2024 preseason begins in just four days’ time at Old Trafford against the newly-relegated Leeds. Glory Glory Man United! Glazers Out!

FA Cup Final: United’s Good Season Ends on a Sour Note

The whole of Manchester travelled south to London earlier today for the FA Cup Final, featuring Manchester City vs. Manchester United. Despite the long and storied history of the Manchester Derby, there has never been one in an FA Cup Final before today. City and manager Pep Guardiola are the precipice of winning the the Treble, while this match was United’s final one of the season and their last chance to win silverware. The atmosphere inside a packed and sun-drenched Wembley Stadium was jubilant and boisterous in the run-up to kick off. United were not playing at full strength going into this match, thanks to the injury absences of striker Anthony Martial and winger Antony dos Santos. Both of them would have started this match had they been fit.

Unfortunately for the Red Devils, they were behind just 12 seconds into the match after an exquisite finish from City midfielder İlkay Gündoğan. A long ball was played forward and won on the edge of the box by midfielder Kevin de Bruyne, and no one was covering Gündoğan as it fell right to him. It was a great finish of course and United keeper David De Gea had no chance at it, but it was a soft goal to concede that was really down to poor marking in the United midfield. With this goal, Gündoğan set a record for the fastest goal in the FA Cup Final and it put United under serious pressure immediately. Whatever Plan A was for the Red Devils, it was now out the window.

However, the lads did well to weather the storm. There was a serious danger of us collapsing having conceded so early, but the back-4 stuck to the task and held United together while the midfield and forwards sorted themselves out. United got an earned equalizer on 33 minutes from the penalty spot, after City winger Jack Grealish was adjudged to have used his hand in an attempt to clear a cross in the penalty area. The handball rule has serious flaws to it, but it was indeed a handball as the rule is currently written. Grealish had his hand over his head and the ball struck it. A discussion needs to be had in the close season about the how to re-word the rule, but this was indeed a penalty per the current letter of the law. Midfielder Bruno Fernandes stepped up to the spot and sent City keeper Stefan Ortega the wrong way for 1-1. Great fightback by United to get an equalizer, and it was all square going into half time.

City went ahead again however on 51 minutes, and this goal was probably even softer than the first one. City had a corner and the ball was whipped in by De Bruyne, who had spotted Gündoğan unmarked on the edge of the area. De Bruyne expertly put it on his left foot, and Gündoğan hit it first time on the volley from the edge of the area. It went through a sea of bodies in the box and nestled into the lower left corner of the goal. De Gea could have gotten over to it a bit quicker, but as to why Gündoğan was left unmarked at the edge of the box I will never know. Very poor defending, and City punished United for it.

City came close to getting a third a few times including having a goal waived off for offside, but United had a few chances of their own as the second half wore on. Substitute winger Alejandro Garnacho went close after some neat dribbling in the box, only to see his shot go just wide of the far post. Midfielder Scott McTominay also almost netted an equalizer in stoppage time during a goal-mouth scramble, but the City defense did just enough to put the ball out over the crossbar. The final whistle eventually blew and Manchester City won the FA Cup.

What’s most annoying about this result is that United had their chances to win, they just didn’t execute as well as City in the final third and conceded two soft goals. Had City come out and flattened us it would have been hard to complain about the result, but this one is agonizing due to the fact that United could have easily won it. City did not play up to their standards today, but they still won due to being clinical at the right times. The case could be made that the referee did not do much to help United with several questionable calls, but that doesn’t change the fact that United weren’t good enough going forward. Maybe a full strength side gets a different result today, but we’ll never know.

Still though, United had a very good first season under manager Erik ten Hag and this result does not spoil the progress made. They are still League Cup winners and will be playing in the Champions League next season. No one dressed in red should feel too bad about how the season has gone overall. However, United’s ownership cannot stall now. This club needs investment, and it needs it badly. It’s not just about buying new players, either. The Glazer family as owners must stop extracting funds from the club to line their own pockets and instead reinvest the profits into the club’s infrastructure. City have benefited from over a billion pounds of investment from their Kuwaiti owners in the last few years, and they are winning trophy after trophy as a result. United can do that too with less greedy owners. The club’s most urgent needs right now are a striker, a second option at goalkeeper, and ball-carrying midfielder.

It will be interesting to see what happens this summer for United, particularly for the long-tenured De Gea, center back Harry Maguire, McTominay, and midfielder Fred. We need to remove some of the hefty wages from our wage bill, and some hard decisions will indeed be made in the coming weeks. I trust ETH to make the right decisions in terms of continuing the rebuild, but I do not trust our ownership to back him in the way that he needs. The sooner this club is sold, the better. More on that in a separate post down the road. I will also cover the Champions League Final next Saturday, and I will be supporting Inter Milan.

For the last time this club season: GLAZERS OUT!

Premier League: Victory Over Fulham and Final Day Round-Up

Manchester United played host to London side Fulham FC earlier today at Old Trafford in the final match of the 2022-2023 Premier League season. This was not really a high-stakes match as United had already solidified their top-4 spot, while Fulham were mathematically locked into 10th place and therefore unable to reach a European spot. Still, there was always pride on the line and the fairly strong team fielded by manager Erik ten Hag indicated that he wanted 3rd place locked up. If United earned an equal or better result than Newcastle, they would indeed finish 3rd. There was also a lot of drama at the bottom of the Prem table in the relegation battle, but let’s recap the Red Devils’ match first.

The match was fairly tepid to start out but United were on the front foot for the most part and creating the chances. Fulham somewhat unexpectedly forged themselves ahead on 19 minutes thanks to a header from right back Kenny Tete. Fulham had won a corner, which was swung in to the box by winger Willian. Tete lost his marker at the near post, and he nodded in from what was effectively point-blank range. Fulham going ahead was not on the cards, and United’s misery was almost doubled when the referee awarded Fulham a penalty on 25 minutes after midfielder Casemiro was adjudged to have committed a foul in the box. There weren’t too many protests from anyone in a red shirt, and replays showed a pretty clear foul. Cottagers striker Aleksandar Mitrović stepped up to the spot, but his low effort lacked power and placement. De Gea was able to get down to his left and paw away the shot! Great penalty save from De Gea, especially because De Gea isn’t known as a penalty stopper. The save galvanized the rest of the Red Devils though and they grew into the game quickly.

Winger Alejandro Garnacho went close to an equalizer when his shot from a tight angle struck the crossbar, but United continued to push. They were rewarded for their efforts on 39 minutes when winger Jadon Sancho bundled home a loose ball in the box. Midfielder Fred had taken a good touch to get the ball into the area, but he was met by a Fulham defender that didn’t fully clear the ball. Sancho took a touch and then slid the ball in low past Fulham keeper Bernd Leno. There was a bit of luck about the goal given the good bounce to Sancho, but United had been the dominant side since the penalty save and were good value for their equalizer. The first half finished at 1-1. Newcastle were also level in their match against Chelsea, which meant United were a scant 45 minutes away from a 3rd place finish.

United did not have to wait too long for the go-ahead goal. They had continued their dominance from the latter part of the first half and found the back of the net again on 55 minutes. Fred played a truly sublime through-ball into the feet of fellow midfielder Bruno Fernandes, whom had found a gap in the Fulham back-4 to run into. He latched onto the ball, took it around Leno through on goal, and finished into an empty with ease. A great run and finish from Bruno, but Fred needs all the credit for excellent vision and hitting an absolutely perfect ball. 2-1!

There were half-chances created by both sides in the final 35 minutes, with both keepers forced into fairly routine saves here and there. ETH made some key substitutions as well so as to provide rest and prevent injury to the big players before the FA Cup Final next Saturday. The rhythm of the game slowed down a bit, with the final 10 minutes plus stoppage time feeling more like a training session than a match. That happens on the final day sometimes when there is nothing to play for. The final whistle blew after United cleared a Fulham free kick and the lads locked up a 3rd place finish!

Given how bad this team was last season, a 3rd place finish on 75 points with the League Cup in hand and the opportunity to win another trophy should be regarded as a success. It is true that a club like United needs to be challenging for the league title, but we are clearly still in the early stages of the ETH rebuild. He brought in some absolutely massive players last summer, and some of our pre-existing players improved significantly this season too. We finally have a coherent style of football that the players have bought into. Biggest turning point of the season was early on though. We had lost our first two matches against Brentford and Brighton & Hove Albion, after which ETH made the players run 14 KM (roughly 8.7 miles) during a training session. Vitally though, ETH ran all 14 KM with the players. That’s pretty good for a man in his mid-50s, and it clearly showed the players that he was fully invested in the squad. The job he’s done this season has been nothing short of brilliant, and he deserves a full backing from the club’s ownership (whoever that may be) during the transfer window. We need a striker, a second option at goalkeeper, and a ball-carrying midfielder. Time to open the check book!

Glory Glory Man United! Glazers Out!

The Relegation Battle

Coming into today, the title had already been decided and the top-4 was also mostly solidified. Liverpool, Brighton, and Aston Villa ended up in the final European places – with the Scousers and Brighton qualifying for the Europa League while Villa will set up shop in the Europa Conference League next season. There was a lack of drama at the top of the table on the final day, but there was no such lack at the bottom.

Bottom-dwellers Southampton had already been relegated a week or so ago. That meant that there were two other spots open for teams to fall into, and the three teams in danger of doing so were Everton, Leicester City, and Leeds United. Leeds were absolutely walloped by Tottenham 4-1 today, and they were losing almost from the get-go. Their fate was sealed relatively early on. Leicester actually managed to beat West Ham 2-1 though, which meant that they were safe as long as Everton lost to AFC Bournemouth. However, Everton midfielder Abdoulaye Doucouré smashed the Toffees ahead from 20 yards out on 57 minutes, and it would be the goal that saved them from relegation. Everton and manager Sean Dyche escaped this year, but they have serious work to do in the summer to avoid another relegation battle next season. Thrilling stuff at the bottom of the table today, with millions of pounds at stake for each club!

Before the sign off, a quick congratulations to Burnley FC, Sheffield United FC, and Luton Town FC on their promotions to the Premier League! They will replace the relegated Southampton, Leicester, and Leeds. Burnley and Sheffield United have been in the Premier League before, but this will be the first top-flight adventure for Luton Town in their 138 year history! This is a club that re-defines the word “underdog”. I highly recommend a read-up on Luton Town for those interested because they are probably the best story in football right now.

We aren’t quite done with matches this club season just yet. Saturday June 3rd is the FA Cup Final between Manchester United and Manchester City at Wembley. Should be a Derby for the ages! There is also the not-small matter of the Champions League Final between Manchester City and Inter Milan on June 10th in Istanbul, Turkey.

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!

Premier League: United Win to Close in on the Top 4, City Win the Title, Forest Safe

Manchester United travelled to the south coast of England earlier today for a Premier League match with AFC Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium. It was a warm and sunny occasion in which United were looking for three points in the final push for the top-4. Fortunately for United and manager Erik ten Hag, the Cherries and manager Gary O’Neil were already safe from relegation coming into the match, which meant they had little to play for.

The match itself was far from a classic, aside from a few major events. Midfielder Casemiro scored the one and only goal in this match just 9 minutes in, and what an acrobatic goal it was! Fellow midfielder Christian Eriksen played a high arcing ball over the top of the Bournemouth defense from about 25 yards out, with Casemiro running onto it. A Bournemouth defender got a touch to it first, but the bounce fell straight to Casemiro. He contorted his body to get his right foot to it, and he swept it home without the ball touching the ground. Cherries keeper Neto had no chance! It wasn’t quite an overhead kick, but it was very close to being one. The goal was important, but it was a very good game for Casemiro overall as well. Excellent passes, he kept possession well, and was on hand to break up attacks when needed.

Bournemouth did have their chances, most notably on 33 minutes when keeper David De Gea dove to his left to keep a shot from striker Dominic Solanke out. De Gea also did well to tip a powerful and rising shot from midfielder David Brooks over the bar on 47 minutes. That was the pattern of the game – a half chance every ten minutes or so. Solanke was the danger man for Bournemouth on the day, but he couldn’t convert any of the chances presented to him. United used the high press very effectively as the match wore on, and they forged some chances of their own just after the hour mark from striker Wout Weghorst and midfielder Bruno Fernandes. Neto was equal to all attempts on goal, though. Bournemouth striker Kieffer Moore forced another fine save from De Gea on 84 minutes, but that was the last good chance of the match from either side. After some solid defending in stoppage time, United were winners on the day 1-0!

The Red Devils will need to be more clinical with their finishing next season. They did enough to get the win today, but this was a match they should have won by 3 goals at least. Credit to De Gea for having a good day between the sticks, and his normally worrisome distribution was aided by a lack of pressing from the Cherries. He also won the Golden Gloves today, awarded to the keeper (and back four) that keeps the most clean sheets over the span of a Premier League season. The situation with De Gea’s contract will be an interesting one to watch over the summer.

Excellent matches from defenders Raphael Varane, Victor Lindelof, Luke Shaw, and Aaron Wan-Bissaka. They’ve been rock solid during this final stretch of the season, even though the goals have dried up a little. Sometimes a manager has to rely on his defense towards the end of these long and grueling seasons, and they’ve all stepped up exceptionally well. The return of center back Lisandro Martinez next season will only further bolster an exceptional position group.

United’s win, coupled with Liverpool’s draw at Aston Villa today, means that United only need one point from their final two matches to qualify for the Champions League next season. They are well and truly on the door step, and both of their remaining Prem matches are at the fortress of Old Trafford. If they can secure just a single solitary point against either Chelsea next Thursday or Fulham on the final day, the top-4 will be guaranteed. There is also still a chance they finish 3rd ahead of Newcastle, but that won’t be a disappointment if it doesn’t happen. The top-4 is essential, while 3rd would just be icing on the cake.

Some other major events happened today too! Nottingham Forest’s victory over Arsenal at the City Ground ensured that Forest will be staying up and remaining in the Prem next season. This is huge financially for a club like Forest, and it was the principal and primary goal for them to achieve. Well done to manager Steve Cooper and all of Forest’s players for giving the city of Nottingham something to cheer about!

Arsenal’s loss also unfortunately handed the Premier League title to Manchester City, who now cannot be caught mathematically. This is City’s third successive League title and their 7th overall. For many the title comes with an asterisk though, as City are currently being investigated for numerous violations of Financial Fair Play rules, but their supporters won’t care about that. City are the best team in England, and likely also the best team money can buy. Only United (FA Cup final) and Inter Milan (Champions League final) stand in their way for an historic Treble now, something only United has achieved in the past (1999). It is breathtaking to watch them play, but the feeling is soured knowing they’re funded entirely by an oil state who doesn’t care about playing by the rules!

Even though the title has been decided and the top-4 is almost decided, there is always the relegation battle at the bottom of the table to consider. Forest are safe, which means that Everton, Leeds United, and Leicester City are staring down the barrel of relegation. Everton are currently just barely outside the bottom three, but both Leeds and Leicester will know they can leapfrog the Toffees if they can scrap some points from their respective remaining matches. Bottom dwellers Southampton have already been relegated mathematically, which means that two of the three aforementioned clubs will also be going down. On an interesting aside, this season is the first once since 2017/18 in which all three promoted clubs from the previous season will be staying up. Well done Fulham, Bournemouth, and Forest!

Glory Glory Man United! Glazers Out!

Premier League: Back-to-Back Defeats Leaves the Top 4 Race Hanging in the Balance

I was too upset and frustrated to write about Manchester United’s loss away to Brighton & Hove Albion last Thursday, so I thought I would wait until after the match away to West Ham United earlier today and do a double-post with the hope that the result today was better.

It wasn’t.

United have suffered back-to-back 1-0 defeats on the road against those aforementioned teams. They looked to achieve a respectable 0-0 against Brighton until center back Luke Shaw mysteriously stuck his hand in the air to meet the ball in the box in stoppage time, and midfielder Alexis Mac Alister converted a 97+ minute penalty to steal all three points for the Seagulls. Today, United were behind on 27 minutes after Hammers winger Saïd Benrahma’s speculative effort embarrassingly slipped through the gloves of United keeper David De Gea. United were unable to find the net as the match wore on. Truthfully, United could have easily lost by a 3-0 margin today in East London. The referee saved them from further goals awarded despite the Hammers finding the back of the net several times, and they likely should have been awarded a penalty for handball in first half stoppage time.

Usually I’m able to point to one specific problem that leads to a defeat, but in this case it appears there are several. Each problem by itself is probably not enough to cause these losses, but taken together it’s all a recipe for disaster.

For one, the Red Devils have been terrible away from Old Trafford this season. We have more defeats away than relegation-strugglers Everton, and it speaks to a problem with the team’s mentality and attitude. Manager Erik Ten Hag has shown he is capable of good man-management at times, but this team wilts like a flower in the July sun away from home and it must be changed going into next season. Whatever ETH did at the beginning of the year to get this team to buy in, he needs to do it again.

Another reason for these losses is the overall play of De Gea. His error today was terrible and probably one of the worst of his career. But his shot-stopping issue today is still not the biggest concern. Again, his distribution when playing the ball out from the back has been below standards in multiple matches this season. Part of that is the center back pairing in front him (and that is addressed below), but he has repeatedly shown he is not capable of effectively distributing the ball out from the back, which is crucial to the tactics and philosophy of ETH. De Gea gets it right every once in a while, but at this level he has to be much more consistent. The casual observer might think he’s had a good season given that he’s on pace to win the Golden Gloves (awarded to the keeper with the most Premier League clean sheets), but that is a misleading statistic for keepers. Keeping a clean sheet involves all 11 players, not just the keeper. ETH likes to use the keeper to start the build-up play and then for the team to move the ball up the pitch along the ground, but when the keeper is consistently making poor decisions with the initial pass, the build-up doesn’t work. ETH has resorted to letting De Gea play long balls at times, particularly against Brighton, but those haven’t been the most accurate either.

It does not help De Gea that center backs Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane are battling long-term injuries. Martinez and Varane were first choice under ETH for a reason – both are very good on the ball and can usually withstand a high press from the opposition. Replacement center backs Victor Lindelof and Shaw have shown that they are capable defensively for the most part, but they are not as good on the ball and struggle to make the key passes into midfield when pressed. Shaw is normally very good on the wing when he plays his natural left back position, but as he has had to deputize at center back, the left wing has looked unproductive. It’s no coincidence that the scoring of forward Marcus Rashford slowed down once Shaw was required to move into central defense. Shaw and Rashford have good chemistry between them, and they scare teams with their movement and passing down the left wing. Deputy left back Tyrell Malacia had a good start to the season, but his form the last several matches covering for Shaw has left a lot to be desired in attack.

Of course, no one man or unit is responsible for the team losing. De Gea hasn’t been good, but this team is more than capable of getting results against teams like Brighton and West Ham. The rest of the outfield players have frankly been poor. Winger Antony dos Santos usually looks good for a half, then he disappears. Midfielder Bruno Fernandes is always running his tail off, but his passes haven’t been accurate recently. Midfielder Casemiro is being knocked off the ball too easily. Striker Anthony Martial hasn’t looked sharp since he returned from injury. Rashford’s goals have dried up. Striker Wout Weghorst can’t find the back of the net to save his life, and indeed no one’s finishing has been good. The list of players underperforming goes on and on. As hinted at above, this is a team that is collectively low on confidence, and it is on ETH to reignite the team’s confidence and get them firing again. It took them until the 90th minute today to really start playing with intensity, which is unacceptable. I imagine several of them will be out the door this summer while ETH continues to rebuild.

The top-4 is now in serious jeopardy for United, and failing to qualify would be borderline catastrophic for the club’s finances and moreover their ability to recruit players over the summer. They are just one point ahead of Liverpool in 5th, as these losses have seen their cushion evaporate. They still have a game in hand over Liverpool, and fortunately three of the last four matches will be at the fortress known as Old Trafford. But, all of Liverpool’s games seem very winnable for them as well. United still need 9 points to mathematically guarantee the top-4, and there are only 12 maximum points available. The Scousers and/or Tottenham Hotspur could still bottle it themselves of course, but you never want to leave qualification in the hands of the opposition.

United return to Old Trafford next Saturday to host Wolverhampton Wanderers. Wolves are safe from relegation and likely do not have much to play for, so hopefully United are able to get back on track with three points.

Premier League: A Narrow But Vital Three Points

Manchester United played hosts to Birmingham-based side Aston Villa FC at a rainy Old Trafford earlier today. Manager Erik ten Hag and the Red Devils needed three points to really solidify their place in the top-4, while the Villans were looking to continue their impressive form under manager Unai Emery. The Frenchman has Villa in outstanding form since his appointment. He is a master of tactics and setting up his team to frustrate the opposition as much as possible, and he is aided in that endeavor by a World Cup-winning goalkeeper in Emiliano Martinez. They’re not only good defensively, but they can score too. Villa has scored in every match Emery has been in charge of thus far. He has been a fly in United’s soup many times before, and he would look to do that again today. United once again fielded a makeshift back-4, although given the good form Luke Shaw has been since sliding over to center back, it feels less “makeshift” than it previously has.

The beginning of this match was marred by a protest from United supporters, roughly a thousand of whom marched on Old Trafford before the game started to show their distaste for United’s owners – the Glazer family. They are rumored to be selling the club soon (a separate article is needed for that topic), but they are dragging their feet and it’s unclear if they will indeed sell or not. Fans have wanted the Glazers out for a variety of reasons for the better part of a decade now, and this author stands behind any fan group calling for their removal. Full sale now! Glazers Out!

The first few minutes of the match were a little tepid but United slowly and surely asserted themselves. Most of the forward runs into the attacking third were being made by United. Striker Marcus Rashford fired wide of the post 8 minutes in, but it wouldn’t have counted as he was adjudged to be offside. Rashford then forced a save from Martinez from a tight angle on 11 minutes, with midfielder Marcel Sabitzer firing a difficult shot over the bar on 14 minutes. United were having a lot of success with playing the long ball over the top of the Villa back four and letting the pacey attackers run onto it. However, Villa got their best chance of the half on 19 minutes. A neat passing move saw midfielder Emiliano Buendia play the ball across the face of United keeper David De Gea’s goal, but Villa striker Ollie Watkins had fallen down and the ball bounced off him and away from the goal. However, it fell straight to Villa left back Alex Moreno, who lashed a shot straight at De Gea. It was saved and the danger evaporated, but it was an extremely close call. Watkins was shouting for a penalty as he felt he was pulled down by United right back Diogo Dalot, but it would have been a soft decision to award one.

United’s dominance soon resumed, with midfielder Casemiro striking the crossbar from about 15 yards on 28 minutes. The Red Devils did finally cash in on their chances on 39 minutes. Martinez cleared the ball long, but the aerial header was won by Casemiro in midfield. The long rebound off his head travelled forward in the air, and Rashford was on hand to run onto it. He did well to get into the box and get a shot away, but it was parried away by Martinez. Fortunately, midfielder Bruno Fernandes was on hand to sprint to the rebound and lift it over the sliding Villa defenders and into the net for 1-0! Sometimes in this sport you get a lucky bounce, and you have to take advantage of it when it happens for you. Great composure. More on Bruno below, but at halftime it was 1-0 and the Red Devils were good value for their lead.

The opening 10 minutes of the second half were again somewhat tepid, with both sides not really forging many chances. Rashford came close again on 58 minutes, but he couldn’t quite get to the final ball before Martinez did. Worryingly though, Villa were growing into the game. They struggled with their own final balls and finishing, but they were now consistently putting together the neat passing moves in attack that Emery is known for. There was a penalty shout for United on 73 minutes when Rashford was seemingly pulled down in the box, but the referee waved off protests from the United players. The referee was consistent in his calls today, at least. If the challenge on Watkins in the first half wasn’t a penalty, then neither was this one.

Villa then got another very good chance on 81 minutes after another good passing move led to the United defense being at sixes and sevens. Watkins hit a cutback cross inside the box that found midfielder Douglas Luiz in space about 12 yards from goal, but his first shot was blocked by a United defender. The ball came back to him though, and he struck another shot towards goal that center back Victor Lindelof cleared off the line with his head. The flag eventually went up for offside on Watkins in the build-up, but none of the players would have seen it. Well done to Lindelof for covering, even if the goal likely would have been disallowed had it gone in. Villa came somewhat close again from a corner on 85 minutes, but the glancing header from center back Tyrone Mings was unintentionally cleared away by fellow Villa defender Ezri Konza. Villa had another chance from a free kick in the dying seconds of stoppage time, but they failed to create a shot on target. The final whistle blew and United won 1-0!

This was a tightly contested match and I am proud of the Red Devils for holding onto their lead, which is something they have had issues with this season. Old Trafford is a fortress for United now, and their streak of never losing a Premier League match there once in the lead continued today. United at home are simply a different beast than when on the road, and our form at home is a major part of the reason why the top-4 now looks likely. Massive games from Shaw and Lindelof today. They were both sensational, and it’s a testament to the coaching of ETH and his staff that there hasn’t been much of drop off in quality in central defense after injuries to our regular starters. Shaw is still best at left back, but his emergency pairing with Lindelof in the center of defense has been nothing short of a revelation. Well done to the lads for being the first team to hold Villa scoreless under Emery!

The difference maker for United today and on many other occasions this season was Bruno. Not only is he vital to our attack in terms of playmaking ability, his leadership on and off the pitch is vital to the chemistry of this team. Opposing fans would argue that he spends too much time moaning and complaining to the referee when he doesn’t get a decision, but that is part of his game – passion. This squad rallies around his passion for the game, and he is a key part of the accountability installed by ETH. His tactical system and man-management style only work if the players buy into it, and Bruno clearly has. There is no one better at making sure everyone does their job than Bruno. He was even remonstrating with Casemiro at full time today, and that was after a victory! He is the engine in our team and if center back Harry Maguire is sold this summer (as seems likely), Bruno should be awarded the club captaincy.

United are now solidly in 4th place. They are still 2 points behind Newcastle, but with a game in hand. It would be great to finish 3rd, but most importantly United are now 7 points clear of Liverpool in 5th place, also with a game in hand. As we are near the tail end of the season, the mathematical permutations and clinching scenarios have become clear. If United can secure a minimum of 9 more points (three victories) from their final six matches, they are guaranteed a position in the top-4 and the Champions League next season. Next up is a tricky away match on the south coast against Brighton & Hove Albion on Thursday, May 4th.

Glory Glory Man United! Regardless of where we finish, it’s always GLAZERS OUT!

Premier League: Another Annoying Draw at Tottenham

Manchester United returned to London for the second time in a week for a Premier League match with Tottenham Hotspur at their self-titled stadium. It was a fairly wet evening given the rain, which can be an X-factor in a match. United were looking to continue their run towards the top-4, while Tottenham and interim manager Ryan Mason were looking for a positive response after being drubbed 5-1 by Newcastle last weekend. United’s back line was shuffled by manager Erik ten Hag again, with natural left back Luke Shaw shifting over to center back in a pairing with center back Victor Lindelof. There was also a start for midfielder Christian Eriksen, a former stalwart of the Tottenham midfield.

Although Spurs made a few early runs, it was United out front first just 7 minutes in thanks to winger Jadon Sancho. United had the ball forward in the left channel on a break, and Sancho showed some real confidence to create space for himself before finishing low and into the far corner. Spurs reserve keeper Fraser Forster couldn’t get near it. It was poor close marking from Spurs who probably should have gotten a challenge in, but take nothing away from Sancho for the finish. He has suffered from indecision on the ball this season. He can usually get into a promising area, but then he dawdles on it and the chance evaporates. Not this time though! He knew what he wanted to do with it right away, and he executed it perfectly. United will need more of that from him as the season draws to a close.

Spurs responded fairly well to going a goal down in terms of defending, but they struggled creating chances in attack. They didn’t appear to be on the same page as one another, particularly the forwards and midfielders. Shaw and Lindelof were defending well, and so was right back Aaron Wan-Bissaka. They always seemed to get in the way at the right moment, and United looked dangerous on the break.

Indeed, United’s second goal came from just a situation. Spurs winger Ivan Perisic found himself through on goal on the left wing around 43 minutes, but his shot was straight at keeper David De Gea and the rebound save bounced away towards the near corner. After some tangling over the loose ball, it was eventually played to midfielder Bruno Fernandes. Bruno looked up and spotted striker Marcus Rashford on a run ahead of him, and he played a long ball over the top into his path. Rashford was 1-on-1 with his defender, and after he ran onto the ball in the box he lashed it home past Forster for 2-0! A fantastic run, a fantastic pass, and fantastic finish from United’s top scorer on the season. He is now on 29 goals scored in all competitions! The half came to a close shortly after that, with United in commanding position. The boos from Tottenham supporters were growing louder and louder.

But whatever said to Mason to motivate his players in the locker room, it clearly worked. There was no tactical change for Spurs at all – the players just started playing with more energy and determination. They almost pulled one back after a series of corners in the opening 10 minutes, but they did get one back on 56 minutes via right winger/right back Pedro Porro on 56 minutes. United failed to clear the ball from a corner, and after a series of blocked shots it eventually fell to Porro about 17 yards from the goal. He put in a shot that came off his foot awkwardly, and it flew into the top corner of De Gea’s net. A lucky-ish finish from Porro, but that is what can happen when a team fails to properly clear the ball in their own penalty area. Porro would normally miss from there 8 times out of 10, but today it went in. 2-1.

The goal really energized Tottenham, but the Red Devils should have had a third goal right after that. United had the ball in the box with Bruno on it, and he pulled off a magical nutmeg to put himself through on goal with only Forster to beat. Mysteriously though, he overpowered his shot and struck the crossbar with the goal open. AWB tried to head in the rebound, but Forster had recovered and collected easily. As long as I live, I will never understand how Bruno missed this chance. The goal was basically open for him, but there was far too much power on his shot. A big miss and it would end up costing United dearly.

The final 30 minutes was heavily impacted by the play of the substitutes of both sides. Tottenham’s subs were very good, and United’s were very bad. Midfielder Fred in particular had an absolute shocker, giving the ball away every time he was on it. Also a bad day for deputy left back Tyrell Malacia, and striker Wout Weghorst was totally ineffective. An error from Malacia and right back Diogo Dalot led to Tottenham’s second goal on 79 minutes. Malacia ended up on the wrong side of Spurs striker Harry Kane, who was able to find winger Son Heung-Min at the back post with a delightful cross. Son had missed a good chance just a few minutes earlier, but his scuffed shot found the back of the net this time with De Gea stranded. Credit to Spurs for pushing and getting their equalizer, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen a set of substitutes play so collectively poorly for United. Malacia cannot let a player of Kane’s caliber get goal-side of him, because he will either shoot or lay off a killer pass. 2-2.

United did re-establish some possession in the final 10 minutes, but there were no major chances. Midfielder Casemiro maybe could have done better with his header from a Shaw cross late on, but there weren’t enough chances created due to Spurs playing with a back-5 and clogging up the midfield. The match ended at 2-2, with United feeling like the losing side. It was a very disappointing second half, and ETH’s substitutions simply did not work. The players looked absolutely gassed towards the end, and it’s the mark of a very long season with a very thin squad. The drop off in quality between Eriksen and Fred today was absolutely staggering. Eriksen is good when he’s not tired, but Fred has been far too inconsistent this season. This squad will need serious strengthening in the summer if they are to challenge for trophies.

This match was almost a carbon copy of the match against Sevilla earlier this season – a two goal lead going into halftime, only for the squad to choke away the victory through careless play. The supporters and ETH will look at this as two points dropped, although in the grand scheme of things the Red Devils are still in a strong position to finish top-4. They are fourth right now and two points off Newcastle in 3rd, but with a game in hand. The most assuring thing though is that United have a six point lead on both Tottenham and Aston Villa (tied for 5th), and they have two games in hand over both of those clubs.

Next up for United is a return to Old Trafford for a very big match with the aforementioned Aston Villa in the Premier League. Three points in that match sees United put one foot in the top-4 and qualification for the Champions League next season. It won’t be easy though, as Villa and manager Unai Emery are excellent at causing problems for the Red Devils.

FA Cup: United Through to the FA Cup Final on Penalties

Manchester United travelled to London earlier today for an FA Cup Semifinal matchup with Brighton & Hove Albion at Wembley Stadium. This match was full of intrigue for a variety of reasons. Brighton and manager Roberto De Zerbi are probably having the best season in their history, and they’ve been extremely successful with their scouting and recruiting of players who fit De Zerbi’s system. He also knows how to get the best out of his players. They play a possession-oriented style that you don’t often see from a mid-table club, and they are anchored in the center of the park by a World Cup winner in Argentine midfielder Alexis Mac Allister. United and manager Erik ten Hag were looking to right the ship after the woeful 3-0 loss to Sevilla in the Europa League. The back line was shuffled once again, with left back Luke Shaw moving into the center of defense alongside center back Victor Lindelof. The FA Cup is United’s last realistic chance of winning another trophy this season.

The first half was decidedly even. Both teams were cancelling each other out tactically, and the defenses were playing extremely well. Brighton forced an early save from keeper David De Gea on 7 minutes from a Mac Alister free kick, after which midfielder Bruno Fernandes forced a save from Seagulls keeper Robert Sanchez with a shot from just outside the box on 14 minutes. There were half chances created as the first 45 minutes wore on, but there was also a litany of fouls and injuries that really stopped the match from getting into a rhythm or flow. Neither side had a great half in terms of finishing. The final touch or shot was seemingly always just off. Winger Antony dos Santos forced a kicked save from Sanchez in stoppage time, but it was a fairly routine one at that. At halftime it was 0-0, and it was hard to give an edge to either side.

The second half was a bit more dynamic. For the first 15 minutes or so, it was all Brighton. They were dominant in possession and were winning free kicks left and right. De Gea was forced into a big reflex save on 55 minutes from Brighton forward Julio Enciso after the Red Devils failed to effectively clear a corner. United did well to weather the storm though, and they became the more dominant team as the second half carried on. The problems with finishing for both teams carried on, however. Each time someone got the ball into a promising position, it was inevitably followed by a bad touch or last-ditch challenge that ended the danger. The usual second half substitutions from both sides also slowed things down. Seagulls winger Solly March forced a low but again routine save from De Gea on 83 minutes, but that was the only goal mouth action in the latter stages of the half. As the minutes ticked down, it became clear that extra time and maybe even penalties would be needed.

The 30 minutes of extra time that ensued followed the same pattern as the previous 90. A half chance for Brighton, then a half chance for United, then Brighton, et cetera. Some very solid defensive play from both teams, coupled with more poor finishing. The best chance for United was a deflected shot from striker Marcus Rashford that sent Sanchez diving, but he got a hand to it and palmed it away. Rashford came very close again on 112 minutes after a fine pass from midfielder Casemiro found him on a run, but his curling effort from 16-17 yards went wide of Sanchez’s far post. After 120 minutes of football and stoppage time it was still 0-0, and the ominous aura of penalties loomed large.

The weather seemed to understand the importance of the moment too, as what was previously a sunny day in west London suddenly became a downpour just before the shootout began. Water on the pitch is not what a penalty taker wants, but both De Gea and Sanchez would have been pleased to see it. Mac Alister went first for Brighton and dispatched his penalty expertly, as did Casemiro for United after him. Seagulls defender Pascal Groß then converted his penalty, after which United full back Diogo Dalot dispatched his as well. That’s how it went for the first five penalties for each side – clinical finishing. Sanchez did get a hand to midfielder Marcel Sabitzer’s sixth penalty, but he couldn’t keep it out. The big break for United came when March skied penalty number 7 over the crossbar, which allowed Lindelof to step up to the spot and send Sanchez the wrong way! United won 7-6 on penalties and advanced to the FA Cup Final!

Tons of talking points from this one but I want to highlight United’s makeshift back four of Shaw, Lindelof, Dalot, and right back Aaron Wan-Bissaka. All four of them were immense today, as was De Gea with some key saves. Lindelof in particular was impressive. It’s true he’s fallen down the pecking order this season due to the play of center backs Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane, but he has proven himself to be a reliable option when those two have not been available. Having Shaw next to him was a risky but ultimately correct decision as well. He doesn’t usually play centrally, but the two of them work very well together. Lindelof’s cool and steely approach to taking what was ultimately the winning spot kick is part of the reason why he’s called Iceman. I hope ETH sticks with those four players at the back until Varane is fit to return.

All of the penalties taken in this shootout though – aside from March’s – were excellent. Credit to Rashford and winger Jadon Sancho in particular. The last time those two took part in a shootout was the disastrous England match against Italy at Euro 2021 where they both badly missed, but you never would have known that judging by their confidence today. Sancho buried his penalty high and in the opposite corner, which is unstoppable if it’s executed correctly. There was a confidence about the penalties that I haven’t seen from United in a long time. March was unlucky to miss his, but sometimes that’s how these things go. Penalty shootouts are always a roll of the dice, and for Brighton today they came up snake eyes. They will rue their poor finishing today, just like United would have done had they lost. Some real nerve on display from the lads today, which was a nice contrast to the previous match where they looked like they couldn’t be bothered.

United will play in the first ever Manchester Derby FA Cup Final against fierce rivals Manchester City on June 3, 2023 at Wembley. Between now and then though are the final 8 matches of the Premier League campaign, with the first one being yet another trip to London to play Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday. United are temporarily in 4th place due to Newcastle’s victory over Tottenham today, but United have a game in hand. This match against Spurs is a big one in the race for the top-4. Win, and United will be a virtual lock for the Champions League next season.

Glory Glory Man United! Glazers Out!