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#3 Late substitutions hurt Red Devils
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has made late substitutions during several games this season, and the fixture against Leeds is the latest addition to this list. The Norwegian sent on Paul Pogba in the 76th minute, Edinson Cavani in the 86th minute, and Donny van de Beek in the 89th.
Given the sheer quality and firepower available to Solskjaer from the bench on Sunday, it was a questionable move to make substitutions that late into the game. Such little time wasn't enough to give the fresh players any time to make an impact on the team and open Leeds United up. This has been a recurring issue for Solskjaer, who has been criticised for repeatedly throughout the campaign as he's left substitutions until it's too late into the game.
It would be a different story if they were leading the game by a couple of goals and wanted to see it out, which was not the case on Sunday, as they were in search of a breakthrough against Leeds. A questionable decision from the manager. Van de Beek's change in particular — given that he is unlikely to start against Roma in midweek — was a baffling one as he was handed just about four minutes.
#2 Kalvin Phillips makes amends for the reverse fixture
Back when these sides met at Old Trafford, Kalvin Phillips was run ragged by the likes of Bruno Fernandes as he dragged him out of position to create acres of space for his fellow Red Devils. The Englishman was so poor that he was hooked off at half-time by Bielsa in favour of Pascal Struijk.
On Sunday, Phillips made amends for the horror show at Old Trafford by delivering a fantastic display for Leeds against their storied visitors. He was excellent both offensively and defensively and put in a stunning display for Leeds, topping the charts for most ball recoveries, tackles, successful long balls, and a host of other metrics.
The 25-year-old's pass to find a darting Helder Costa from his own half in the second 45 minutes was one of the best passes of the season. Phillips was everywhere for Bielsa's men, and, most importantly, he was pivotal in completely neutralising Bruno Fernandes' threat on the afternoon. The Englishman didn't give Fernandes any breathing room, which helped the hosts marshall Manchester United's attacking threat.
#1 Manchester United's defensive unit stands out again
Since the turn of the year, Manchester United have evolved into one of the best defensive units in Europe. Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Luke Shaw, and captain Harry Maguire have been at the top of their game and have helped Manchester United keep more clean sheets than any team in Europe, bar Chelsea, and Manchester City, with 30 across all competitions.
Their resolute backline was on full display once again as they blunted any and every attacking threat carried by Leeds. Maguire and Shaw, in particular, were sensational on the night. The skipper's brilliant ball carrying ability and line-breaking passes were some of the only highlights in the first half, with Maguire often finding himself near the 18-yard box. Shaw created more chances than any player on the pitch at Elland Road.
Victor Lindelof was also impressed in the game and managed to find Rashford with a few raking long balls in the first half while managing to keep a close watch on Patrick Bamford. Overall, it was an excellent outing for the ever-improving Red Devils defence against Leeds United.
Also read: 5 Great footballers who played for multiple national teams
