'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAIAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFAABAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABv/aAAgBAQAAAAAIM//EABQBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAL/2gAIAQIQAAAAX//EABQBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAD/2gAIAQMQAAAAf//EAB4QAAICAgIDAAAAAAAAAAAAAAECAwQFEQATBhIx/9oACAEBAAE/AG8HyzTimcJl7fco3aiUSK4KdsZ93Pwgg8mw7Ryuj13VlYqVMO9c/8QAFxEAAwEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEDIf/aAAgBAgEBPwCck3p//8QAGREBAAIDAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQACAwQh/9oACAEDAQE/ANjPwCoT/9k='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Manchester United began the post-Jose Mourinho era with an emphatic 5-1 win over Cardiff City on Saturday. In what was Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s first game in charge since being named as interim manager, the Red Devils rolled back the years with a scintillating performance against Neil Warnock’s side.
United lined up in an attacking 4-3-3 formation, featuring the likes of Ander Herrera, Paul Pogba, Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford. The Red Devils needed just three minutes to open the scoring – Rashford netting from a deflected free-kick.
United doubled their lead midway through the first-half with Herrera’s long-range shot flying into the top right corner. Cardiff, however, made it 2-1 in the 38th minute when Camarasa scored from a penalty after Rashford handled the ball in the United box.
But there was more action before the break as Martial combined with Pogba and Lingard to score a perfect team goal. The Frenchman played a quick one-two with Pogba; interchanged another pass with Lingard, before firing a low shot to make it 3-1.
Man United returned to the second half very much on the ascendancy and went 4-1 up after a contentious penalty was awarded when Lingard fell in the Cardiff area. The England international stepped up and duly converted. Lingard later added a fifth to wrap up an emphatic win for Solskjaer's side.
It was indeed a comprehensive win for Man United and Solskjar, especially following the negativity that surrounded the club during Mourinho’s tenure. This looks like a new era and the performance was reminiscent of what the great Sir Alex Ferguson made the Red Devils faithful accustomed to.
The 4-1 win and the performance of the Man United players has since erupted Twitter into a frenzy. Many football fans have wasted little time in having their say on the game.
Here are some of the best tweets:
