Manchester United vs FC Astana: Five things we learned as Mason Greenwood wins Europa League opener
Five things we learned from United's narrow win over Astana
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Your support makes all the difference.Ole focused on the Premier League
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer showed, perhaps unsurprisingly, that he is not prioritising the Europa League in its group stage. He made 9 changes to the last team that he named, with only Marcus Rashford and Nemanja Matic keeping their places.
The United manager confirmed before the game that academy prospects Mason Greenwood and Axel Tuanzebe would make their first starts of the season, and fellow youngsters Diogo Dalot, Angel Gomes and Tahith Chong were also drafted into the starting line-up.=
There were first starts too for Phil Jones, Sergio Romero, Marcos Rojo and Fred. Realistically, none of them are near the first team picture, highlighting Solskjaer’s willingness to keep his first-choice players well rested.
Solskjaer knows that the priority for United is to return to the Champions League as soon possible, and playing Premier League games with a rested side is the best way to achieve that.
Pogba and Mata are not enough
With Paul Pogba injured, Juan Mata is United’s only true creative midfielder. Regardless of a rebuilding prospect at Old Trafford and not wanting to sign average players for inflated prices, that is not a situation that the club should have allowed themselves to be in.
When United were in possession, they moved the ball about without purpose and had no one they could turn to that could unlock the defence. They were at their most dangerous from set-pieces and crosses, with Chong, Gomes and Rashford struggling to assert themselves on the game.
The midfield duo of Matic and Fred was functional at best. Matic was calm with possession, but offered little else. Fred always looked like he was about to do something exciting, before passing the ball square or giving it away. The Brazilian was also defensively suspect, and it is still unclear exactly what he brings to the side.
If one thing became clear from the game, it is that United badly need midfield reinforcements.
Chris Smalling made the right decision
Smalling left United on loan for Roma in what was one of the more bizarre transfers of the summer. However, the move should at least allow him to play more regular football than he was going to be afforded at Old Trafford. He may choose to stay at Roma, or move elsewhere having reaffirmed that he is a capable footballer.
Phil Jones remained, and that is not proving to be a good decision for him. He has not played any Premier League minutes this season, having been considered a valuable squad member since joining United in 2011.
Playing solely in the Europa League, as is expected this season, is not a good career move for the 27-year-old, who is entering his prime playing years. There is no upside for Jones on a personal level - the standard of the opposition negates any ‘good’ performance and a bad performance only sees his stock fall even further.
In truth, Jones had an average game. He was beaten too easily midway through the first half, allowing Roman Murtazayev through on goal and was lucky that the ball got stuck under his feet and the chance was wasted. He had little else to do, and may be wishing he had left Old Trafford when he had the chance.
United needed a leader
United laboured to their 1-0 win, and struggled badly to dominate the game in the manner expected of them. Although they created a few chances they were not down to good play, nor were they taken (save for Greenwood’s goal). They should have broken down FC Astana with ease, but instead looked bereft of ideas after just 15 minutes.
What they needed was a leader. Not necessarily a Rio Ferdinand leading from defence, but someone to take control of the game and set the tone in United’s favour. They needed someone to demand the ball and lead by example - someone to inspire those around them into stepping up their own game. In United’s line-up you would say that man could have been Marcus Rashford, but that is an unfair burden to place on a player who is only 21 and surrounded by inexperienced players.
Pogba’s appetite for the ball was sorely missed, and this game highlighted the fact that United’s squad is lacking the right kind of personalities.
Mason Greenwood saved everyone
Much is expected of Greenwood, despite being just 17. He has been compared to Robin van Persie, and there were shades of the Dutchman when Greenwood chopped onto his right foot in the box and fired home after 73 minutes. In doing so, he saved us all.
He saved Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and his teammates from having to deal with not beating FC Astana at home, a game believed to be a banker in the Group L.
He saved the thousands in the stadium, who up until that point had had their excitement piqued by a failed rabona attempt from Marcos Rojo.
He also saved the thousands watching on TV, who know that they could have caught up on Peaky Blinders or The Great British Bake Off had they decided this game was not worth watching.
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