In a dramatic and unpredictable match, Manchester United narrowly defeated Leicester with a 2-1 victory, leaving fans and analysts dissecting the team's performance. The victory, while crucial, highlighted several areas of concern for United. The match took place amid rising tensions about United's current Premier League standing, with many, including the writer, expressing that it is not good enough.
The game saw its fair share of controversies and highlights. Winks suffered a foul by min Ugarte, which resulted in a yellow card, adding to the game's heated atmosphere. Meanwhile, Marcus Rashford emerged as the hero of the day, with his goals playing a pivotal role in securing United’s victory against Everton. However, Rashford's recent form has been inconsistent since manager Ruben Amorim benched him seven weeks ago for poor finishing.
United's performance oscillated throughout the game. They dominated for a period, only for the match to devolve into a scrappy affair once more. Harry Maguire candidly stated after the match that the first half was "nowhere near good enough." This criticism echoes sentiments that United fans have heard repeatedly in recent times.
United's home victories have been less than convincing lately, with losses to Southampton and Leicester still fresh in the minds of supporters. Despite this, Ruud van Nistelrooy praised the team’s performance, describing it as "very good." He also quipped about their timing issues in matches:
“We are not defeated in Fergie time,” – Ruud van Nistelrooy
“We are defeated in offside time.” – Ruud van Nistelrooy
Leicester, on the other hand, might be wondering how they managed to lose despite dominating much of the first half. The second half saw an improvement from United, who increased their speed and intensity, resulting in a turnaround that secured their victory.
The presence of inverted wingers, as mentioned by Andy Flintoff, proved effective when paired with full-backs or other wide players. This strategic adjustment contributed to United regaining control during crucial moments of the match.
Ruben Amorim's influence on the team has been significant. He placed Rashford on the "naughty step" weeks ago due to his underwhelming performance. Amorim emphasized the importance of believing until the end:
“We have to believe it until the end,” – Ruben Amorim
Following the match, he reflected on United's need for consistent energy and improved performance from the outset:
“but this game has nothing to do with the time of Fergie. The performance, we have to do so much better. We didn’t have any energy in the beginning. Then in the second half we play a little bit better, with a little bit more speed, and then we manage to turn things around. So [it] was a good result, not a good performance.” – Ruben Amorim
Amorim also took responsibility for United's fluctuating performances:
“It’s everything. And the coach is responsible.” – Ruben Amorim
Despite these challenges, United managed to secure a win that could prove vital in their quest for improving their Premier League position. However, questions remain about their consistency and ability to maintain strong performances throughout an entire match.