Manchester United: Victory Over Luton Town and Big Premier League News

Sorry for the delay in writing this match report. I started a new job this week and had to focus on that. Much to my chagrin, this blog does not pay the bills!

United defeated newly-promoted Luton Town 1-0 in a nervy win at Old Trafford on November 11th. The goal was from center back Victor Lindelof, who swept home with a high finish on 59 minutes after the Hatters failed to properly clear their lines. While the scoreline was a narrow one, United could have easily had 2 or 3 goals if not for some woeful finishing by winger Alejandro Garnacho and forward Marcus Rashford. However, the positive news is that they were consistently creating chances against a team defending in the low block. That is something that has not really happened this season, so it was good to see a bit more creativity. Yes, the finishing must improve, but there was a direction and purpose about the team in this match. Manager Erik ten Hag can hang his hat on that improvement. A win is a win of course, but more goals will need to be scored so as to improve on United’s pitiful goal differential.

United went into the November international break 6th in the Premier League table on 21 points, having won 4 of their last 5 matches in the domestic league. Given how crap they’ve been to start this season, things could be much worse. They are 7 points off Man City in first place, and 5 points off of Tottenham in fourth place. The team must continue to improve and get healthy, but things could be a lot worse. United will travel to Liverpool to play Everton on November 26th, after the international break ends. England play their final two Euro 2024 qualifiers this month, with one of them happening today against Malta at Wembley. I will do a separate post after the final qualifying match against North Macedonia on Monday, November 20th to recap all of the action.

Speaking of Everton though, there was some absolutely massive news announced today by the Football Association (FA) concerning them. It was announced today that Everton would be docked 10 points for violations of the rules surrounding Financial Fair Play (FFP). The FFP rules are often murky and difficult to understand even for the most diligent and learned of football fans, but what it boils down to in this case is that Everton have lost too much money in the past three seasons. English top-flight clubs are permitted to lose a maximum £105m over three years, and an independent commission supposedly found Everton’s losses through 2021-22 amounted to £124.5m. It is also rumored that Everton will be sued for hundreds of millions of pounds by other clubs that were relegated in the past two seasons. Everton is appealing the points deduction of course, but if it stands it will be a massive blow to their hopes of avoiding relegation this season. Everton were in 14th place and and 9 points clear of the drop before today, but now they find themselves in 19th place and 2 points away from safety. This is a huge, huge deal. I don’t recall the last time a team were given a points deduction from the FA in the middle of a season, and 10 points is the biggest deduction ever handed out to a club by the FA.

A couple of things on this, though. For one, FFP is a far from perfect set of rules and I think ten points is a harsh penalty to pay. If they were indeed in violation of the rules surrounding the clubs finances then fine, but how is this penalty supposed to help a cash-strapped club like Everton fix their finances? Relegation would be even more devastating to them financially. Is the FA trying to send a message to the club’s owners regarding spending? Perhaps, but taking away Premier League television revenue (should they be relegated) will not help Everton bring in more money to offset those losses. The punishment does not fit the crime, if you ask me.

Further, the application of FFP rules are not evenly applied to every club. Oil-rich Manchester City are also under investigation for (numerous!) violations of FFP, but the prospect of the reigning champions being given a points deduction seem rather slim. Why? Well, City are extremely well-funded and they have an army of lawyers working to slow down the adjudication of the charges they face. The source(s) of their funding have always been cloudy, though many suspect that the government of Kuwait funnels money into the club through sideways means. Football clubs under FFP are meant to be generally self-sustaining, but it seems that City is not really adhering to that policy. They make their own money to be sure, but the amount of money they bring in does not really match up with match day attendance revenue and sponsorship deals year after year. If the FA wants clubs to take FFP rules seriously, City need to face the same or worse punishment as Everton already has. If there is no such punishment forthcoming, clubs like City will continue to ignore FFP and their will be nothing “fair” about them. There’s no denying the rules must be tightened, but if they aren’t equitably applied then there’s no point in having them altogether.

Premier League – Man United Win Away in Honor of Sir Bobby Charlton

Earlier today, Manchester United traveled to the northeast of England for a Premier League match with Sheffield United at Bramall Lane. This was the first match for both clubs after the international break, with the Blades and manager Paul Heckingbottom (amazing last name) perhaps needing a positive result even more than United. They are currently bottom of the table, having taken only one point from their opening eight matches. United and manager Erik ten Hag meanwhile were looking for a bit of consistency. They won their last match against Brentford before the two week break, but have failed to string together consecutive victories so far this season. Perhaps a bit of extra motivation for the Red Devils would be to go and win one in memory of Sir Bobby Charlton, an England, United, and footballing legend who passed away from dementia just a few hours before kickoff. More on Charlton below.

The Blades were the better side for much of the opening half. Their finishing was poor, but they were moving the ball around well and creating a lot more than United. Keeper Andre Onana was forced into a few important saves as well, but it was United who opened the scoring on 28 minutes thanks to midfielder Scott McTominay. He found himself inside the box and on the receiving end of a sharp pass from fellow midfielder Bruno Fernandes. McTominay’s first touch with his chest sent the ball high into the air, but it fell right back down in front of him to hit on the volley first time. It wasn’t the cleanest of connections and it appeared to take a deflection off a Sheffield defender on it’s way to the net, but it rolled into the right hand side of the net with Blades keeper Wes Foderingham (another great last name) rooted to the spot. The goal was against the run of play to be sure, but that has been the story of Sheffield’s season so far. They create chances, but they don’t finish them and then get picked off at the other end. 1-0 to Manchester United!

Unfortunately, McTominay went from hero to villain just six minutes later when he was adjudged by referee Michael Oliver to have handled the ball in his own penalty area. Oliver pointed to the spot for a penalty straight away, and it was confirmed a few moments later by VAR. Now, this time, I don’t have too much of a problem with this one being given as a penalty. McTominay had his hand away from his body when it struck his lower arm, which under the current version of the handball rule should be a penalty every time. Alright, fine. My problem with this call is that even more egregious handball calls by opposing teams have not been called in previous matches, most notably when United played Arsenal and Tottenham earlier this season. There’s just no consistency in the application of this rule. None at all. It depends on the subjective decision of the referee and the VAR official, and subjectivity was the main thing the new handball rule was supposed to eliminate! It’s supremely annoying and threatens the integrity of the game when the rules are not applied equally across all matches. Blades striker Oli McBurnie stepped up to the spot and blasted the penalty past Onana for 1-1, giving him no chance to save it. The match remained 1-1 at halftime as well, with Bruno striking the crossbar from a free kick being the only other major action after the goals.

United improved in the second half, at least in terms of possessing the ball and creating chances. They still looked fairly uninspired, though. They seemed content to try and play the long ball over the top from midfield towards the forwards, but Sheffield were aware of this and set themselves up in a low block defensively. United have struggled monumentally to break down teams in the low block this season, and those struggles continued for most of this game. Midfielder Sofyan Amrabat struck the woodwork from distance, but most United attacks were breaking down in the final third.

United got their winner however thanks to a moment of individual brilliance from right back Diogo Dalot. United had the ball forward, and Dalot collected a pass in the center of the pitch from deputizing left back Victor Lindelof about 30 yards from goal. After taking a touch and composing himself, he unleashed a divine curling effort that Foderingham was late getting over to. The Blades keeper got a hand to the shot, but he could not keep the effort out and it settled into the top corner for 2-1. It was a massive sigh of relief for the United players and fans, and it came from a fairly unlikely source. Dalot has only scored 4 goals in total over the span of his United career, but he produced some real quality with this finish. It was a goal that Charlton himself would have been proud of! An effort from distance that curled into the top corner. 2-1 to United on 77 minutes.

The final 13 minutes plus stoppage time were not the pressure cooker United have seen at times this season. Sheffield forged some half chances from set pieces, but United looked more likely to grab a 3rd than Sheffield did to get a 2nd. Substitute winger Alejandro Garnacho was a terror down their left hand side in the closing stages, and had his finishing been better he would have had a third for United. The ref’s whistle finally blew and United secured three points on the road, which was a fitting tribute to Charlton.

Positives and negatives on this one. The makeshift back four mostly played well, marshaled by an excellent match from center back Harry Maguire. He was a rock at the back today, always on hand to make a clearance or win a header in the air. The injuries to the United defense have led to him seeing more playing time, and he has given ETH a selection headache with his good play. Also solid games from Lindelof, Onana, and Amrabat. The attack still looks very disjointed, however. They were better going forward as the match went on, but they are not relying on good tactics or build-up play to score goals. We are still continuing to rely on moments of individual brilliance to score and thusly to win matches. It worked today thanks to Dalot and lower quality opposition, but it will not work consistently. I know that the return of key midfield and defensive starters will fix things somewhat, but ETH clearly still has more work to do to get this team firing on all cylinders.

Today was all about Sir Bobby, though. United needed a win on the day of his death to honor his legacy appropriately, as the man did nothing but win during his career. This is a man who was arguably the best-ever player for both England and United. He is one of only 9 men EVER to win the World Cup, Champions League (then called the European Cup), and the Ballon d’Or. He was a menace in the midfield to deal with, and he held goal scoring records for both England and United until relatively recently. He also was a survivor the Munich Air Disaster, the awful plane crash that almost led to United shutting it’s doors in 1958. Put simply, without Sir Bobby, United is not the club it is today. England would not have a World Cup trophy to it’s name, either. He was a regular at Old Trafford well into his 80s, and the place will feel significantly different without his presence in the stands. Tributes have been pouring out from fans, players, managers, pundits, and clubs; and they will continue to do so throughout the week. Sir Bobby was 86 years old.

United next play in midweek in the Champions League, at home to FC Copenhagen. Three points are desperately needed if United want to make it out of their group. After that is the not-small matter of the Manchester Derby next Sunday at Old Trafford. The club’s form needs to improve if we want to win either of the upcoming matches.

Glory Glory Man United! Glazers Out!

Manchester United – This One Is For Cathy Ferguson

Manchester United’s inconsistent form has continued the past few weeks. There was a win over Crystal Palace in the League Cup, followed by a dismal loss to the same side in the Premier League a few days later. United also lost to Turkish side Galatasaray in midweek in the Champions League, in a match marred by controversy. The main reason for this sputtering form is bad defending. The Red Devils have more leaks in defense right now than the Titanic post-iceberg, but that is largely due to injuries. Defenders Raphael Varane, Lisandro Martinez, Victor Lindelof, Luke Shaw, and Aaron Wan-Bissaka have all been bitten by the injury bug at the exact same time. That’s the entire preferred back four out all at once. To make the atmosphere even more negative around Old Trafford, supporters were saddened by the loss of Cathy Ferguson, wife of former manager and United legend Sir Alex Ferguson. Her influence on this club is the biggest of any person who has never actually worked or played for us. She was the one who single-handedly convinced Ferguson not to retire when he initially wanted to in 2002, thus ensuring another decade of success and trophies for Manchester United. My deepest condolences to Sir Alex, the Ferguson family, and anyone who ever met Cathy.

The club needed a response today. Something needed to happen, and thankfully it did. United took on Brentford FC earlier today at Old Trafford in the Premier League, with three points being the order of the day. Unfortunately, United found themselves down a goal on 26 minutes after midfielder Casemiro needlessly gave the ball away, and Bees midfielder Mathias Jensen was on hand to sweep home a low finish past United keeper Andre Onana. United had been lackluster up until that moment, and they were punished for their usual complacency.

The poor play continued until about the last half an hour or so. Manager Erik ten Hag brought on striker Anthony Martial and winger Antony dos Santos around that time, with the ineffective forward Marcus Rashford among those coming off. United improved significantly with these changes, although Martial and substitute winger Alejandro Garnacho were wasteful in front of goal. As the clock ticked towards full time, ETH made another key substitution – bringing on midfielder and Scotland international Scott McTominay for make-shift left back Sofyan Amrabat.

Six minutes of stoppage time was given by the referee, and United finally got an equalizer on 93 minutes thanks to a tidy finish from McTominay. Brentford failed to clear their lines, and McTominay showed great predatory instinct to beat Brentford keeper Thomas Strakosha at his near post. Old Trafford erupted in celebration when United finally found a way through for 1-1.

McTominay and United weren’t finished, though. The Red Devils won a free kick near the halfway line on the right wing, just as the clock hit the 97th minute of play. Had United not already scored, the referee may have blown his whistle and not permitted us to take the free kick. Midfielder Bruno Fernandes played a high aerial ball into the box, and it found the head of center back Harry Maguire. Maguire was on the left side of the box, and his header back towards the goal found McTominay on a run. McTominay had ghosted in front of his marker intelligently, and he looped the pass from Maguire up over Strakosha and into the back of the net for 2-1. A winner in Fergie Time! Absolutely amazing. The ref blew his whistle shortly after that and United miraculously emerged with a victory!

The storylines from this one are fantastic. A Scottish player scores two goals in stoppage time to win the match the day after the death of Cathy Ferguson. It was absolutely magical and it was desperately needed for the club. Here’s to hoping Sir Alex can smile about something now. Well done to McTominay and the rest of the lads for not quitting. Effort is something that has been lacking this season, and I hope the players remember that they are never out of a match. They have to keep fighting. They have to keep running at the opposition and taking chances. United have been incredibly short on luck this season too, so it was about time a roll of the dice went our way. There are still many issues with these players and the manager’s tactics that need to be addressed, but credit to ETH for getting his substitutions right (this time). He changed the game with those subs, and Brentford failed to put the game away. Big shoutout to the much-maligned Maguire as well. He takes a lot of flak when he doesn’t play well, but he was a rock in central defense today and that needs to be noted.

Here’s to hoping that this win is the spark the club needed to get back into consistently good form. A win like this one can change the mentality of the players and fans from negativity and pessimism to self-believe and positivity. United head into the October international break with a win, which is all anyone can ask for. They are now out of action until October 21st, when they travel north to play Sheffield United. England have a friendly against Australia on October 13th, and then there is a crucial Euro 2024 qualifier against Italy at Wembley on October 17th.

Glory Glory Man United! Glazers Out!

Premier League: Frustrating Defeat at Arsenal

Manchester United travelled south to London earlier today for their fourth match of the Premier League season against Arsenal. The rivalry with Arsenal dates back to the 1990s and hasn’t really cooled off over the years. Both of these clubs have title aspirations and top-4 aspirations, so even though this fixture was early in the season, it carried a lot of significance. United manager Erik ten Hag knew that the Red Devils’ away form against the top teams needed to improve, and this match was a great chance to do so. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta had his side off a good start, but he knew United would be a very tough test even at home.

The first half was fairly even, in a way. Arsenal were the better team going forward. They were creating chances, but their attacks were being consistently repelled by a dogged United defense. Left back Diogo Dalot and right back Aaron Wan-Bissaka were doing well at shutting down Arsenal’s talented wingers. United had more of the possession in the first 45, but their possession was usually in their own half. Keeper Andre Onana was doing very well with playing the ball out from the back, which is the precise reason he was brought in. Interestingly, United scored with their first shot on target on 27 minutes.

Midfielder Christian Eriksen picked up a loose ball in his own half and brought it forward into space before finding striker Marcus Rashford ahead of him on the left wing. Rashford was given space by the Arsenal back four to cut inside the box onto his right foot, and he unleashed a vicious shot that Gunners keeper Aaron Ramsey could only parry onto the inside of the post and into the goal. Emirates Stadium was stunned, given that goal was very much against the run of play. Happy to see Rashford finally off the mark for the season. He was our leading scorer last season and he needs to get back to that form. 1-0 United!

The celebrations in the away fans’ section were short-lived though, as Arsenal were level just 35 seconds after the restart. Arsenal captain and midfielder Martin Ødegaard was given too much space on the edge of the box by the United defense after being found by winger Gabriel Martinelli. He let a long-range shot go that was hit with power and placement, and Onana couldn’t get to it in time. Two goals in roughly a minute electrified a match that had been somewhat dull up to that point. Oddly though, those were the two most notable moments of the first half. Two moments of madness in a sea of drudgery. It was 1-1 at halftime with all to play for.

The second half was similarly slow-paced for the first 25-30 minutes or so. United were creating more chances, but Arsenal were holding them off effectively and creating the odd chance or two of their own. Arsenal wanted a penalty when striker Kai Havertz tumbled in the box under a challenge from AWB, and referee Anthony Taylor pointed to the spot. After a VAR check though, the penalty call was rescinded. There wasn’t a lot of contact, if any, on Havertz before he went down, and Taylor deemed it a non-penalty. More on Taylor below. Arsenal then went close when winger Bukayo Saka got on the end of a cross at close range, but his shot was straight at Onana.

A troubling issue for United were the injuries sustained by center backs Lisandro Martinez and Victor Lindelof as the second half wore on. They were already without center back Raphael Varane and left back Luke Shaw due to injury, so options were extremely thin. It was eventually the out-of-favor Harry Maguire and 35-year-old Jonny Evans in central defense for United towards the end. The injuries affected this result, no doubt.

The Red Devils thought they had a winner however on 88 minutes when substitute winger Alejandro Garnacho was put through on goal. He carried through the attacking third, after which he slotted home past Ramsey to the ecstasy of United supporters in the away end. However, Taylor and VAR needed to have their say again. Somehow, mystifyingly, the replay official deemed Garnacho to have been offside when he received the ball, despite him appearing to be level or even slightly behind the last Arsenal defender. The goal was ruled out and we continued at 1-1.

Arsenal earned a corner in the 5th minute of stoppage time, and the ball was swung into the box towards the back post. Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice was there, and he bundled home a deflected finish past Onana to give Arsenal a lead they wouldn’t surrender. It was a heartbreaker for the Red Devils, but they didn’t give up. They threw men forward for an equalizer, and were likely denied a penalty when substitute striker (and United debutante) Rasmus Højlund was wrestled to the ground in the box. Curiously, no replay was shown on TV feeds of this incident. A VAR check was supposedly conducted, but no penalty was given.

Arsenal got a third in the 11th minute of stoppage time when striker Gabriel Jesus caught United on the break. There weren’t enough men back to stop him, and he faked out his marker rather thoroughly before slotting past Onana from close range. It was insult to injury, really. Arsenal won 3-1.

The referee was not helpful today, but United were really hindered by the injuries to the center backs. This was heading towards a respectable 1-1 before the defense finally cracked under the Arsenal pressure. Rice was completely alone at the back post for the winner. Who was supposed to be marking him? United conceded far too many corners and there was finally one too many. The third goal wouldn’t have happened if it stayed 1-1, as United would have had more men back to defend. But the bigger issue is the fact that for long periods of time in this match the build-up play was slow and labored. United have fast and technically gifted attacking players, and they play best when they play fast.

Whoever the VAR official was in this match, he completely lost the plot with the offside call against Garnacho. Terrible. Awful. Total miss. Garnacho was onside. It seems the offside rule is written in pencil, as it changes week to week. Even under the new rule, this was an extremely harsh call that affected the outcome of the match. We went from having a potential 2-1 lead on 88 minutes to losing the match 3-1. Can’t believe we can’t figure out the offside rule in 2023.

The outcome remains the same of course, no matter how much the referee blew it. United’s struggles on the road against top sides continue. Only 6 points from the first four matches this season as well. Injuries are piling up. New signings Serge Reguilon and Sofyan Amrabat are waiting in the wings, and hopefully we can get some defenders healthy during the upcoming international break. I was impressed with Højlund today. He’s a bigger lad than I thought he was, and technically gifted for his size. He had a key role in the build-up to The Goal That Wasn’t for Garnacho.

The non-injured players will now join up with their national teams for the next two weeks. England have away matches against Ukraine and Scotland in the qualifiers for Euro 2024. England have a 100% record so far in qualifying, and they are more than capable of continuing that in the next two matches. ETH will be wise to use this time to evaluate his tactical plans and incorporate the new signings more into the team. United must improve away from Old Trafford to have any hope of maintaining pace with Arsenal and league leaders Manchester City.

As always, 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!

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!