Football
Maguire, the Invisibility Cloak midfielders, and the icing on the cake, Weghorst. In short, a classic Manchester United tale
Commentary: who watched the starting lineup that Erik ten Hag chose for Sunday’s game against Leeds United before the game, must have started biting his nails right away. In the end, however, everything turned out well and Manchester United take the three points for a 2-0 result. However, the course of the match showed many flaws that the Dutch coach will have to solve in the summer if he really wants to fight for the title.
Comment: Anyone who watched the starting lineup that Erik ten Hag picked for Sunday’s game against Leeds United before the game must have started biting their nails right away. In the end, however, it all worked out well and Manchester United take the three points with a 2: 0 result. However, the course of the match showed many flaws that the Dutch coach will have to solve in the summer if he really wants to fight for the title.
Maguire did not disappoint!
If anyone is a certainty for Manchester United, it’s clearly the always calm Harry. After all, who can hold the ball up at 15.6%, the sovereign most of the team, and yet come up with absolutely nothing, with bright exceptions.
Maguire, on the other hand, made a mockery of his opponents by offering some interesting passes which the Leeds United players failed to take advantage of. But if he offers similar opportunities on Thursday to Barcelona, with Robert Lewandowski at the helm, David de Gea will be picking off one ball after another from his own goal.
Maguire is getting few chances. But when he does take the field, he confirms that he is the Premier League’s fifth highest paid stopper. He’s on £190,000 a week from Manchester United. Personally, I wonder how much his rivals are paying him?
Missing Casemiro and Eriksen equals playing without a backup
The pairing of Fred – Marcel Sabitzer certainly didn’t fail, but they didn’t excel either. Early in the game, Tyrell Malacia was withdrawn in the middle, but it didn’t exactly help the midfield as no one could muster the courage to make any surprise passes.
Maguire tried in places, but overwhelmingly without much success. In the second half, Sabitzer seemed to be instructed to get more involved in the game. However, it didn’t bring a fundamental change and the missing pair of Casemiro – Christian Eriksen is noticeable in the Red Devils’ game.
The Brazilian midfielder’s few saves against Leeds United players were underwhelming to say the least. Despite his colleague spending his best years at Real Madrid, such actions would definitely end with the opponent lying on the ground at the very least.
Casemiro, however, can take the ball away from opponents with great finesse and it is very evident in United’s play. Carlo Ancelotti, I think, could tell a story…
With all due respect to Leeds, it was enough for United to win today. However, against a stronger opponent, as I mentioned Thursday’s game with Barcelona, these shortcomings are likely to be punished severely!
Running Weghorst
When the Dutch striker arrived at Old Trafford, everyone had in mind his fabulous performance against Argentina at the World Cup. But the Qatar Championship is now a thing of the past and Weghorst is now showing his (in)ability in the Premier League.
Already 2 goals in 20 games in a Burnley jersey was a warning. He has been slightly more successful at Manchester United, scoring 1 goal in 8 games. However, it must be added that he is definitely not the bright side of the team.
Why? Because he’s still the same fairy tale! The pace of the Premier League just doesn’t seem to suit this powerful Dutch striker. Hopefully his moment will come again, until then Rashford, who got Manchester United more points, will have to put out everything for him.
Plus a header, which is why the Hag brought in Weghorst. This will surely make many fans think of Marouane Fellaini, who has done more at the tip than the Borne native has so far.
A full point against Leeds certainly counts, but we have to take into account the virtually lacklustre performance of the home team, who really didn’t show much. Personally, I’d mark the previous game as the first half as today continued where Wednesday left off.
But then if Manchester United want to move on and fight for the top spot in the Premier League or even Europe, they will have to do a lot more. In my opinion, though, that means some will have to pack their bags and head elsewhere in the summer.
Sources: Manchester United, Premier League
