Manchester United vs Barcelona speaking points: Fred typifying Erik 10 Hag’s transformation | Football News

Fred typifying Ten Hag’s transformation

The Manchester United momentum continues and the road to Budapest will become clearer with this well-known victory, a 1st considering the fact that 2008 over Barcelona. It was a fantastic team turnaround underpinned by heroic defending and behind it all was one more sterling general performance from Fred.

A thunderous sounds rolled all over Old Trafford as Erik 10 Hag exited acquiring staged his have Remontada and demonstrated after far more how he can improve a video game. Versus Leeds, in opposition to Leicester and now here with Barcelona having not go through the script in the 1st fifty percent.

It was a seem that hadn’t been listened to this loud during a long time of this club staying in the doldrums. Just after a summertime, maybe two, dominated by speak of Frenkie de Jong joining Manchester United, it would be the male he may properly have changed that would outshine him through the second half.

“His job was to end Frenkie de Jong, and be like a mosquito all about him. And he did it. A fantastic performance,” 10 Hag said later on.

Victorious in 13 of their 16 absent video games this year – shedding to Bayern Munich, Inter Milan and Serious Madrid – Barcelona had been superior than their hosts.

But Fred, starting off his seventh successive activity in the absence of Christian Eriksen – out until finally at the very least mid-April – would drag his side by the horns and convert the tide United’s way.

Only Marcus Rashford (17) has netted extra goals for Manchester United at Outdated Trafford this time than Fred (5), whose shot also led to Antony’s decisive winner.

There have been other critical players on this phase of program. Casemiro’s influence was felt, David de Gea sprung into action to thwart Jules Kounde. In the text of Roy Keane, huge gamers just doing their employment.

But Fred has so usually been the fall person. Not any much more. Not below Ten Hag. Back again in his very own box to head apparent in stoppage time, moments later starting up the press from the entrance.

‘Fred, Fred will tear you aside again’, sang the Stretford Conclusion.

“It’s extremely good to listen to your name sung by the followers,” reported Fred, getting rid of his educate of believed with a smile as the cries grew to become louder. “It was a fantastic match, but we have to keep going.”

Fred’s transformation typifies all that is excellent about 10 Hag’s Manchester United, on its way again. And on to Wembley.
Ben Grounds

Bruno’s comeback of his possess allows encourage Person Utd

Bruno Fernandes talked up Manchester United’s historical past of wonderful comebacks after the turnaround versus Barcelona. He came up with an spectacular response of his individual on Thursday night.

Soon after firing an early opening straight at Marc-Andre ter Stegen when he appeared primed to rating and then offering absent a pointless penalty for a tangle with Alejandro Balde, the player Xavi had labelled simply just as “the Portuguese person” was owning a night to ignore.

But finally, he would be at the coronary heart of this statement United win. For the ambitions, it was his whipped move which authorized Fred to change and it was his speedy ft which triggered the issues which led to Antony’s conversion.

Considering that his Guy Utd debut in February 2020, only four other players have been involved in extra objectives in important European competitions – Mohamed Salah, Karim Benzema, Kylian Mbappe and Robert Lewandowski. He is up there with the incredibly greatest for attacking output and seemed a genuine threat when he was moved within to enjoy No10.

But Fernandes is also about the hearth he provides to this crew. Sporting the captain’s armband, he is a leader for this facet with his mind-set – and provides an edge, which was basic to see when he experienced phrases with Xavi or booted the ball at the floored Frenkie de Jong. That second could be an intriguing speaking level should De Jong arrive as a new signing at Carrington in the summer months.

The to start with 50 percent of Man Utd’s year was dominated by chat of a further Portuguese guy. But this one particular will be essential to their accomplishment on four fronts in the operate-in.
Peter Smith

Half-time transform wins it for United

Manchester United have experienced 19 objectives scored by substitutes in all competitions this period, the most of any side in Europe’s major 5 leagues. Antony’s will rank as a single of the most critical and arrived pursuing a very important change by Erik 10 Hag at the interval.

Wout Weghorst has commenced all 11 online games considering the fact that signing for United previous thirty day period and is evidently a favourite of his compatriot. But 10 Hag is ruthless enough to recognise when anything is not functioning and his swift swap at 50 %-time helped his staff to convert this tie about.

Bruno Fernandes moved to the center, Jadon Sancho reverted to the remaining. Rashford went up front and offered that danger in guiding. Antony performed on the proper. It worked. Fernandes established up the equaliser possessing roamed to the left. Antony scored the winner.

Ten Hag has felt quick of alternatives for significantly of his time in demand. No question he will want far more future season. But he has presently demonstrated himself capable of pinpointing what is necessary in a recreation and getting the answer. It made the distinction against Barcelona.
Adam Bate

Martinez shines as Gentleman Utd contend on all fronts

Struggling with up against a single of the world’s greatest No 9s seems to have fallen to Lisandro Martinez extra situations than he would treatment to keep in mind this season.

He’s now taken on Erling Haaland and Harry Kane in the Leading League, Kylian Mbappe on the way to a Environment Cup winners medal. On Thursday, he confronted Robert Lewandowski of Barcelona and arrived out on leading.

Although Lewandowski did score from the penalty location, he was mostly absent. The goal he scored was his only shot of the match and he developed no other likelihood. He experienced a xG of .79.

Martinez experienced a massive influence in trying to keep the Barcelona forward quiet, as very well as the relaxation of a proficient – if not depleted – Barcelona crew. He received a few of his 4 tackles, manufactured four clearances and gained 70 per cent of his ground duels.

At just one place in the first 50 %, with the ball at his feet, Martinez gestured for his crew-mates to relaxed down and continue to keep their neat. And which is specifically how he performed – laser-targeted on clearing each ball, creating interceptions and trying to keep Barcelona from spoiling the Outdated Trafford celebration.

It was an extraordinary general performance from a participant who is rising into his function at Manchester United. If they are to have a chance of winning silverware this time – remember, they are however in all 4 competitions – Martinez will have a say in their good results.
Charlotte Marsh