Manchester United: Solskjær spot on not to start Marcus Rashford
The blesser of food for the kid of England Marcus Rashford was also the recipient of the match ball on Wednesday night against RB Leipzig.
Manchester United owned the night and one can say that with full confidence for the first time this season. A 5-0 drubbing over visitors RB Leipzig means they join their English counterparts, topping their groups after two matchdays of Champions League football.
Ole Gunnar Solskjær listened to the people’s cries and started Donny Van der Beek in a lineup that consisted of two strikers at the top and a midfield four with the Dutchman at the tip. Man United turned on the heat early in the match, playing an unfamiliar attacking game from the first whistle.
Because of this shift in strategy and shake-up in tactics, the team was rewarded with an early goal 22 minutes into the first half. A Paul Pogba and Mason Greenwood linkup put the Red Devils ahead. United stayed on the front foot but could only manage the single goal before the halftime break.
Then came the moment of brilliance
After the second half got underway, Ole waited until the 63rd minute to introduce the star of the show, Marcus Rashford and the provider, Bruno Fernandes. The two were an instant hit and stroke of genius by the Old Trafford boss.
The two basically elevated United to an unplayable level and tipped the result heavily in their favour, giving the German visitors no way to get back into the clash. Rashford went on to score a marvellous hat-trick and literally oozed confidence while doing so.
The surety by the striker was displayed with each strike of the ball, giving Péter Gulácsi no chance to stop any of his three shots. In the mix of all of this, the Englishman who fights for food for the young on a daily basis, gave his teammate Martial a gift.
He handed Anthony Martial the ball when they were awarded a penalty in the 87th minute and this was before he confirmed his treble of goals. Deservedly, the final goal went to the super-sub Rashford, capping off a great evening for the Reds Devils.
More from Manchester United
- Arsenal transfer news: Mikel Arteta rivals Manchester United for wonderkid
- Manchester United: Erik ten Hag pinpoints 4 players amid Brighton loss
- Manchester United predicted lineup vs Bayern Munich – UEFA Champions League 2023/24
- 3 reasons why other clubs are ‘annoyed’ by Erik ten Hag and Manchester United
- Manchester United: Erik ten Hag’s constant “crybaby” excuses don’t add up
Why was it brilliant to start Rashford on the bench?
Before their Champions League outing, the forward along with a couple of others appeared exhausted and was in need of a rest. The heavy congestion of fixtures have really tested every professional footballer.
A 45/60 minute break on top of the recess between games can do a world of wonder for any player. Marcus Rashhford just proved it.
Besides looking energized, he also appeared hungry and determined to make an impact on the game. A trade of his that has been missing since the season kicked off.
Thankfully, it kicked in at the right time for Ole. A clean sheet and five goals scored after being heavily criticised for his team selection and methods.
Now he must be praised for his good doing, as it was his decision to reignite Rashford’s flame in front of goal by starting him on the bench for this one.
Next. Firmino ready for the next step in his career. dark
Manchester United are experiencing a good bounce back after their no show against Spurs. Four games played since their 6-1 humiliation, scoring 11 goals, conceding as few as two, and keeping a couple of clean sheets on the way.
Up next, another big test for them, a visit from Arsenal. Both teams are searching for a top-four finish once again, and are in need of some consistency in their respective league runs.