Manchester United: Swansea City gift came at the perfect time

Manchester United dispatched Swansea City with ease at the Liberty Stadium. A win that was served up on a plate, but still much-needed and timely.

Manchester United would expect to beat Swansea City most seasons. They did so 3-1 at the Liberty Stadium on Sunday in the Premier League. The win was dominant, but despite playing well, was more thanks to Swansea than United.

Swansea were atrocious. The tactics of the Swans manager Bob Bradley was suicidal. Both teams were in terrible form heading into the game, but Bradley gave United a free swing with the way he set up his team.

Not that that should matter to Jose Mourinho or Manchester United. When you’re under the pressure United have been under, you take a win any way that you can. When you’re Zlatan Ibrahimovich or Paul Pogba, and your performances have been under intense scrutiny, you take a goal or two any way that you can.

MUST READ: Boro draw showed why Guardiola is an Aguero sceptic

United still had to work for the win, just not as hard, and with far less obstacles than expected. The league table wont know that, however, when United add another three points to their tally. Nobody cares.

More from Manchester United

The win was not only much-needed, however, it was also very timely. Mourinho needed to end the winless run his team were on. The pressure was only building the longer it continued. The spotlight was only intensifying the longer it dragged on.

But now, everybody can get off United’s back a little bit. The players will take some confidence from putting a win on the board also. Ibrahimovich will feel relieved after scoring in the Premier League for the first time since the Manchester City game almost two months ago.

Pogba, too, will get a boost from his fantastic goal. Even Wayne Rooney played well and will be feeling good about his display. The whole squad will get a lift from the win at Swansea. Which is good because United have some key fixtures coming soon.

Next up for Mourinho’s team is a huge game against Arsenal in two weeks time. That game is followed by a Europa League match against Feyenoord. United sit third in Group A at present and need to win against the Dutch side in order to re-assert themselves ahead of the final two group games.

Next: Bob Bradley tactics inexplicable in Swansea loss to Man United

Then United have back-to-back fixtures against West Ham. One in the Premier League and the second being an EFL Cup quarterfinal to round out the month of November. United have some key fixtures coming up that will help shape their season in a number of competitions.

The win against Swansea will now send United into those fixtures feeling a little more confident and under a little less pressure than before. Although, those fixtures are unlikely to be as simple as Swansea proved to be.

Home/Manchester United