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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's Manchester United are showing no signs of stopping, as the Norwegian prepares for the toughest few weeks of his tenure ahead. The victory over Fulham was a fantastic boost for Manchester United as they gear up to host PSG in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday.
The Norwegian has put a fantastic account of himself ever since taking over at Old Trafford and the win against Fulham was another example of his stellar understanding of the game. He accommodated six changes to prepared for the crucial midweek tie, but still managed to come away with all three points. The three goals scored and a clean sheet further added to the joyous mood at the club.
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While Solskjaer masterminded the win by getting his tactics right, he had these 5 men to thank for securing all three points and ensuring a successful outing at Craven Cottage. Without further delay, let's take a look at them.
#5 Luke Shaw
The English youngster was the only familiar face in a new looking back four for Manchester United. Solskjaer selected Dalot, Phil Jones and Chris Smalling to partner Shaw in a game where United were harrowed and harassed in the opening stages of the game. However, it is credit to Luke Shaw that the home team found little joy through United's left side, as the Englishman stood guard and defended his ranks well.
Shaw was solid in his left back role and regularly slid inside to help out his center backs. He was strong in his tackles and intelligent in his positioning. But it was when he went forward that Fulham realized the true potential of Luke Shaw.
The Englishman's speed is a fantastic asset and his partnership with Anthony Martial has been one of the highlights of the season. Indeed, when those two get going together, it is extremely hard to stop them and against Fulham too, Shaw ably supported Martial and was always a threat down the left.
Luke Shaw has finally started to show the promise that earned him a move to United and against Fulham, he was the pick of the back four.
#4 Nemanja Matic
Tasked with covering a new back four, Matic was pegged back during the opening stages of the game. Fulham had overloaded their players into the United half and Smalling and Jones were under immense pressure. It seemed like the home side would break the deadlock at any moment, however, United held on and went ahead themselves.
It was the opening quarter of the game that shaped the final outcome and Nemanja Matic was vital for United in that period.
The Serbian dropped deep and shielded his defense. He denied the home side any room around the box and positioned himself gallantly during the opposition attacks. As such, United were able to withstand the initial storm and managed to stay in the game.
After he had calmed the defence, Matic settled his base a little further up the field. It was from here that the Serbian dictated the game, threading passes, intercepting the opposition attacks and always looking to initiate a counter.
Against Fulham, Matic was once again the lock in the midfield that kept out the opposition as well as held the team together.
#3 Ander Herrera
The Spaniard is such a clever player and is a fantastic reader of the pace of the game. However, his abilities were challenged in the opening stages of the game, when United endured sustained pressure from Fulham.
Herrera was busy as a bee in those stages, but he led by example, closing down the opposition, snapping at loose passes and winning free kicks. He even drove forward to transfer the pressure to the opposition defense and his hard work finally bore fruit in the 14th minute.
As United tried to find a way into the Fulham defense through Martial, the Frenchman lost the ball and the home team tried to catch the away side on the counter. Up stepped Herrera, who won back the ball, jumping over a stray tackle and immediately placed it back to Martial. The Frenchman found his countryman Pogba, who scored to ease the nerves.
It was just the boost United needed and Solskjaer's midfield dynamo had done the job again. Herrera did not just help out in defence, he was crucial in the forward play, moving the ball well, trying to find his forwards with great balls and tacking the runs of Pogba to unleash the Frenchman. His turns and awareness made his presence vital for United yet again.
#2 Anthony Martial
The Frenchman had been a vital part of Solskjaer's XI, however, Martial had just two goals and one assist in his seven appearances under the Norwegian. His new boss still puts trust on him, which was the reason why he was the first choice on the left of the front three.
The Frenchman had performed well too, however, while he had been fantastic in front of goal under Mourinho, he had a slight dip in form of late. All of that was about to change at Craven Cottage on Saturday.
Martial was eager to track back and help out Shaw whenever required, but he knew what his primary role was. As such, he continuously ran at the defence and gave Fulham a lot of headaches. His first big moment of the game came in the 14th minute, when he had the awareness to set up Pogba to score the opening goal. And then, in the 23rd minute, he gave the viewers a huge treat.
Taking the ball from Jones inside his own half, the Frenchman first outran Odoi, brushing aside his challenge. He then left Maxime Le Marchand for dead with a neat trick on the ball. When Rico in Fulham goal rushed out to close him down, Martial calmly slotted the ball into the far corner. It was indeed a classic Anthony Martial moment and it helped United win the game.
#1 Paul Pogba
Against Fulham, the Frenchman scored two goals in a game for the third time since Solskjaer had taken over. Altogether, Paul Pogba has now scored eight goals and registered five assists in 10 games under his Norwegian manager, which is a great sign for the future.
Pogba started in his usual attacking midfield role against Fulham and had his license to roam. As such, the Frenchman popped up almost everywhere on the pitch and was a constant threat to the opposition. Fulham had no answer to his movement, his power and his vision and every time he got the ball.
The Frenchman's first goal came at the right moment for United. Fulham were growing in stature with every passing minute, however, Pogba's acute finish silenced the crowd and stuffed the air out of the home team. But he was not content with just a goal and tried to set his teammates up constantly. His confidence and improvement under Solskjaer is a huge boost to United ahead of a crucial week.
When he scored his second of the night from the penalty spot, the game was all but over. Once again, Paul Pogba had inspired United to three points with man of the match display.
