Manchester United took a huge stride towards qualifying for the knockout rounds of the UEFA Europa League as they dispatched a poor Fenerbahce side at Old Trafford. After a fruitless half an hour, United were gifted a couple of penalties in the space of two minutes, after fouls on Juan Mata and Anthony Martial, respectively.
After converting the two penalties, Jose Mourinho’s side completely controlled the game and added another two goals to the scoreline thanks to screamers from Paul Pogba and Jesse Lingard – who scored his first European goal for Manchester United. Ex-United hero Robin van Persie scored a late goal against his former employers, but the damage was already done.
Here are the talking points from a one-sided affair at Manchester:
#1 United not pretty, but get the job done in the first half
Manchester United once again attracted boos from their fans owing to a lacklustre performance in the opening 30 minutes. The domination of possession without any end product brought back memories of Louis van Gaal’s ill-fated second season, where United were guilty of the same tactics.
However, the frustration died down once United were awarded two penalties in the space of minutes – both of which were converted. United’s player were able to express themselves after going two goals to the good and were more dynamic with the ball, feeding the wingers and putting crosses into the box to test Fenerbahce’s centre-halves, who looked pretty comfortable in the early periods of the game.
The game was well and truly wrapped up in first-half stoppage time, when world-record signing Paul Pogba drilled the ball into the top corner after Simon Kjaer gave away possession. It was not the best 45 minutes of football one will ever see, but Jose Mourinho’s side got the goals they needed to see the game out in the second half.
#2 Fenerbahce sit comfortably deep for 30 minutes, but pay for two silly errors
The away side appeared more than comfortable sitting behind the ball and allowing United a major share of the possession. The centre-back pairing of Simon Kjaer and Martin Skrtel were in no mood to give striker Wayne Rooney any space through the middle, while central midfielder Roman Neustadter did his job of keeping Pogba quiet.
The full-backs also ensured that the likes of Martial and Lingard were unable to cut in towards the byline and create any space for a goal-scoring chance. However, the two fouls on Mata and Martial, which led to the two spot-kicks threw the Turkish side’s ‘Plan A’ out of the window in a matter of seconds.
Both penalties were rightly given and manager Dick Advocaat will be infuriated at the way the hosts were gifted the initiative a disciplined opening thirty minutes.
#3 Carrick provides the spark United desperately needed
United’s inability to break open the Turkish side’s defence meant that they were craving for someone to produce that one moment of magic that would help the hosts have a potential shy at goal. Enter the veteran – Michael Carrick.
The 35-year old, who put in a Man of the Match display in the EFL Cup victory over Northampton, saw the run of Juan Mata into a pocket of space and promptly found him at the edge of the box.
After a good first touch, Mata was fouled in the box as he prepared to atack the Fenerbahce goal, leading to a penalty. The spot-kick was converted by Pogba and from then on, Manchester United were ruthless both in possession and chance creation.
Carrick’s sublime vision to locate that early pass and dictate play from midfield definitely puts him in with a shout to start against Chelsea on Sunday.
#4 Fenerbahce poor in attack for most of the game
For all the defending Fenerbahce were resigned to do, there was barely any offering as far as attack was concerned. Ex-United star Robin van Persie was bereft of service for most of the game and was mostly given the job of taking set-pieces with that famous left foot of his.
The wide men were barely able to make any purposeful runs down the wing to trouble Shaw and Darmian,United’s full-backs. There was no pace on the counter-attack as the away side allowed Chris Smalling and Eric Bailly to settle into position by the time the ball made its way into the box. It was only after the 80th minute – with the result all but decided – that Fenerbahce found their legs in attack and threatened to deny United from earning a clean sheet.
They succeeded in doing so in the 83rd minute, when substitute Emmanuel Emenike’s low cross was converted by Robin van Persie – but it was way, way too late.
#5 Wayne Rooney has a steady game?
A recent history of poor form and an extended period on the bench meant that the centre of attention at Old Trafford on Thursday was undoubtedly the club and England captain, Wayne Rooney. After an initial struggle, the 30-year old was more involved post the two penalties.
Despite never threatening to score himself, he worked very well in centre-forward by linking up with Mata, Martial and Lingard behind him and drawing red shirts into the Fenerbahce penalty area. He pounced upon Kjaer’s error in the build-up to the third goal and set up Jesse Lingard for his wonderful strike across the Fenerbahce keeper to score United’s fourth. However, a striker needs goals to inject some confidence into his game.
It was surprising that Rooney stepped up to take neither of the two penalties United were awarded, but Jose Mourinho will definitely have his own justifications. Has he done enough to merit a starting place at Stamford Bridge? United’s fan following will wait and watch on Sunday.
