Manchester United returned to aggressive motion with a cushty 2-0 victory in opposition to Championship leaders Burnley on Wednesday evening, easing into the Carabao Cup quarter-finals.
Erik ten Hag bluntly outlined the membership’s expectations for the tie pre-game: “Now we have to win.” That obligation was evident from the presence of 5 returning World Cup gamers in United’s beginning XI – a variety resolution which paid off within the quick time period not less than.
Portugal’s quarter-finalist Bruno Fernandes dropped in entrance of Burnley’s mesh of our bodies, floating a cross simply throughout the attain of Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s telescopic leg. The superior full again hooked the ball throughout the field for Denmark’s Christian Eriksen to faucet in from shut vary within the twenty seventh minute.
There was a powerful whiff of Manchester Metropolis about Burnley – from their supervisor Vincent Kompany to the glut of Cityzen loanees and even the sunshine blue shirts they donned – however United’s opener was a cutback aim very a lot out of Pep Guardiola’s playbook.
Inside the opening hour, Marcus Rashford had doubled United’s lead. Amassing the ball deep inside his personal half, the England worldwide took off, gathering pace with every lengthy stride. Louis Beyer tied himself in a knot attempting and failing to maintain up with United’s quantity ten as Rashford seared into the field, rifling a crisp strike into the underside nook.
Every time they fell behind, Burnley responded with a squall of strain, threatening mainly by the fleet-footed Manuel Benson earlier than Darko Churlinov and Ashley Barnes missed the goal after the break. However Martin Dubravka and his self-destructive tendencies posed simply as nice a hazard to the hosts.
Manchester United’s definitively second-choice goalkeeper flapped at a nook kick so dramatically Casemiro was compelled right into a goal-line clearance. Moments later, Dubravka let a again cross squirm below his studs, hurriedly scurrying again to protect his facet’s benefit going into the interval. The previous Newcastle custodian was tackled in his personal field after the break but one way or the other emerged with a clear sheet – regardless of his finest efforts.
Christian Eriksen (left) and Bruno Fernandes had been each concerned on this winter’s World Cup / Lewis Storey/GettyImages
GK: Martin Dubravka – 2/10 – Extraordinarily unsure when the ball was airborne or on the deck.
RB: Aaron Wan-Bissaka – 8/10 – On his first begin of the season Wan-Bissaka not solely supplied the defensive solidity anticipated of him however confirmed an uncharacteristic attacking aptitude.
CB: Casemiro – 7/10 – Scarcely put a foot fallacious even in an unfamiliar place.
CB: Victor Lindelof – 5/10 – Not completely comfy when lured out broad however restricted these duels.
LB: Tyrell Malacia – 5/10 – Extra reserved than his reverse full again, raiding ahead sparingly.
CM: Scott McTominay – 5/10 – Carried the ball confidently however was rushed as soon as he had cantered into the ultimate third.
CM: Christian Eriksen – 7/10 – In addition to poaching the opening aim from three yards out, Eriksen was closely concerned within the first part of United’s buildup.
AM: Bruno Fernandes – 5/10 – Pulled off a Hollywood cross for United’s first aim however was wayward much more typically as he continued to try the extravagant.
RW: Marcus Rashford – 9/10 – Simply ten days after England’s quarter-final exit, Rashford returned to motion with an enthusiastic and energetic show that belied his lack of respite.
ST: Anthony Martial – 6/10 – Flitting out and in of the sport, peppering his efficiency with silky touches.
LW: Alejandro Garnacho – 5/10 – Determined to burst behind Burnley’s backline however lacked composure as soon as he had breached the wall of sunshine blue.
Substitutes
Antony (58′ for Garnacho) – 4/10
Anthony Elanga (71′ for Martial) – 5/10
Luke Shaw (72′ for Wan-Bissaka) – 5/10
Fred (85′ for Rashford) – N/A
Brandon Williams (86′ for Malacia) – N/A
Supervisor
Erik ten Hag – 7/10 – Six weeks after his staff’s final aggressive match, Ten Hag watched his facet produce a surprisingly sharp show.
GK: Bailey Peacock-Farrell (7); RB: Connor Roberts (5), CB: Taylor Harwood-Bellis (5), CB: Louis Beyer (4), LB: Ian Maatsen (5); CM: Josh Cullen (6), CM: Jack Cork (5); RW: Manuel Benson (7), AM: Josh Brownhill (5), LW: Johann Berg Gudmundsson (6); ST: Ashley Barnes (4)
SUB: Darko Churlinov (5), Scott Twine (N/A)
Participant of the Match – Marcus Rashford
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