Is it their year? – Manchester United: half-season review

It’s the 21st January 2021, and Manchester United are top of the league in January for the first time since Fergie’s title winning side in 2013. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has his side in fine form, including a 366 day unbeaten run away from home in the Premier League.

Five key games

Paris Saint-Germain 1-2 Manchester United

Marcus Rashford was heroic once again in the French capital as he netted a fantastic winner to seal a famous victory.

Just a year-and-a-half prior, Rashford’s last-gasp penalty sent Manchester United into the quarter-finals of the Champions League in the face of Neymar and Kylian Mbappe.

Bruno Fernandes scored a penalty in the 27th minute before Anthony Martial headed the ball into his own goal from a Neymar corner to level it up.

Academy graduate Axel Tuanzebe made his first appearance in 10 months and done a grand job in keeping Mbappe at bay. 100% aerial duels won, 92% pass accuracy, seven clearances and a block. Class.

 

Manchester United 5-0 RB Leipzig

Marcus Rashford came off the bench just after the hour mark and scored a hat-trick in 16 minutes in what was RB Leipzig’s heaviest loss in their short European history.

Solskjaer added to his tally of European wins with United, overseeing 11 wins in 18 matches.

Rashford became the second Manchester United player to score at hat-trick as a substitute after his manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer did in 1999 vs Nottingham Forest.

This was United’s fourth game after their infamous 6-1 defeat to Spurs, in which period United collected three wins and a draw, including back-to-back clean sheets.

Martial converted a penalty to pick up his first goal of the season, and Mason Greenwood scored his first Champions League goal with a tidy finish.

Southampton 2-3 Manchester United

Edinson Cavani came off the bench and scored two late goals as Ole’s travelling reds won 3-2 on the south coast.

The former PSG striker came on at half-time as Mason Greenwood was struggling and made an instant impact on the hour mark, slotting home from Bruno Fernandes’ cross.

With the game closing out at 2-2 and both sides desperate for a winner, Cavani nodded home Marcus Rashford’s delivery to win it in the 92nd minute.

United recorded eight successive top-flight away wins from home for the first time thanks to the victory. Fernandes became the fourth Manchester United player to score in five consecutive away games in the Premier League after Ruud van Nistelrooy (2002 & 2003), Robin van Persie (2013) and Zlatan Ibrahimovic (2017).

Another impressive comeback against Southampton, following 3-2 wins away in 2012, at Wembley in 2017 and at the Theatre of Dreams in 2019.

 

Manchester United 6-2 Leeds

Scott McTominay broke a Premier League record as the Scotsman scored twice in the first three minutes.

This was an evening that oozed class and precision from United, in their first league meeting with Leeds United in almost 11 years.

Ole’s reds scored six goals in a Premier League game for the first time since a Sir Alex side famously embarrassed Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal 8-2 back in 2011.

Considering the amount of chances for both sides, fans were disappointed the scoreline wasn’t a lot bigger. Leeds conceded four goals in the first half of a Premier League game for the first time. A huge statement from Solskjaer and his red devils.

 

Burnley 0-1 Manchester United

Paul Pogba’s resurgence into the Manchester United side has been monumental, and his 71st minute winner at Turf Moor sent his side top of the Premier League table on the 12th January.

Marcus Rashford picked out the Frenchman who volleyed home from the edge of the area.

United dominated in a tough away day, in which Burnley failed to record a single shot on target until the beginning of injury time at the end of the second half.

In the seven seasons since Sir Alex Ferguson retired, Manchester United have never been higher than second at this stage of the campaign. Solskjaer’s men took advantage of their game in hand, and extended their lead over Liverpool to three points following this victory.

Players of the season so far

Bruno Fernandes

Very few players in history have made the impact at their respective clubs that Bruno Fernandes has made for Manchester United. When the Portugal international arrived at the Theatre of Dreams in January 2020, his side sat six points off the top four and remarkably ended the season in 3rd place.

Fast forward to January 2021, and Manchester United are top of the Premier League and three points clear of current champions Liverpool. In 50 appearances for the club, Fernandes has tallied 27 goals and 18 assists. A whopping combined 45 goals and assists.

Undoubtedly one of the best players in the world at the moment, he won his fourth Premier League Player of the Month award in December 2020.

He now has as many awards as the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Thierry Henry in just a year. Bruno has recorded the 2nd most progressive passes into the opposition half this season, and created 12 chances. (2nd most).

Paul Pogba

In what has been his most drama-intense season so far, it might also be his best individual season so far. This campaign has marked an incredible change in the Frenchman’s game after agent Mino Raiola claimed Pogba was ‘unhappy’ at the club and wanted a summer move away.

His and the side’s recent form could persuade the World Cup winner to sign a new contract at Old Trafford – which expires in 2022.  United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been praised heavily for his man management of the player, blocking out all the noise and thinking outside the box.

Pogba fought back at critics with match-winning performances and vital goals against West Ham, Burnley and Fulham to solidify the team as title challengers.

Marcus Rashford

According to the latest calculations by CIES Football Observatory, Marcus Rashford is the world’s most valuable player worth a jaw-dropping £150million ahead of his teammate Bruno Fernandes, Erling Haaland and Trent Alexander-Arnold.

The nation’s saviour has increased his value steadily thanks to his 22 goal contributions this season, (14 goals and 9 assists).  This is the first time in a long while that Manchester United have been considered serious title challengers – and Rashford is one of the main reasons why.

The winger is contributing more to his side than fourth-placed 2019 Ballon D’or candidate Sadio Mane. Despite partner Anthony Martial not having the best season by his standards, United perform much more efficiently with both attackers together.

With Martial and Rashford together, United average a 72% win rate compared to 22% when they’re separated.

Luke Shaw

On current form, it’s hard to look past Luke Shaw as one of the best left-backs in the Premier League. After Manchester United signed competing left-back Alex Telles from Portuguese outfit Porto in the summer window, Shaw has certainly stepped up to the plate and fulfilled his role.

In the recent 0-0 draw at Anfield, Shaw recorded one of his best performances for the club to date. 100% tackles won, 81% pass accuracy, eight ball recoveries, four clearances and two chances created.

Despite the Englishman being a full-back, he has created the second most chances this season for Manchester United (26), second only to who else, but Bruno Fernandes (56).

Even after winning United’s Sir Matt Busby Player Of The Year award back in 2019, Shaw has had his best year for the club so far.

Harry Maguire

The world’s most expensive defender has marked an impressive season so far. The former Leicester City man ranks second in total passes into the final third, third in accurate long passes, first in aerial duels won and first in interceptions.

United’s captain has brought extreme stability and consistency to the team’s backline this season and has looked superb alongside Eric Bailly as he has seen a decent run in the side.

Maguire blocked five shots in the goalless draw at Anfield earlier this month, which set a Premier League record in this current season.

The centre-back has played the joint most minutes in the Premier League this season, with 1,710 under his belt.

While he could definitely work on his heading from set-pieces, those numbers aren’t bad for a so called “flop” from rival fans.

What’s next?

Manchester United should most definitely be challenging for the Premier League title  this season. However, their source of goals come from a limited variety amongst Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford and Edinson Cavani so if one of them were to pick up a mid-long term injury, it could spell danger.

Their title hopes also rely on the fitness of Ivorian centre-half Eric Bailly who has proved at times this season he deserves that starting spot over Swedish international Victor Lindelof. With Bailly’s everlasting injury record, this is one the medical staff will have to look out for.

The focus needs to remain on the eventual goal – the Premier League trophy. Paul Pogba is playing in this side like a player who knows what the reward is at the end of the tunnel. This mentality has to spread throughout the dressing room, even amongst squad rotation players if they want a taste of success.

Key games for The Red Devils include:

Manchester City vs Manchester United – 6 March 2021

Tottenham vs Manchester United – 10 April 2021

Manchester United vs Liverpool – 1 May 2021

This will ultimately be one of the closest, and most exciting Premier League title races of all time. Given how spread out the competition is, one or two results could change the entire dynamic of how the campaign will play out.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Manchester United fans worldwide will all be hoping that this is their year – and that 21 is coming.

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