Højlund’s Heroics Secure Manchester United Stunning Comeback Victory against Aston Villa.
Rasmus Højlund’s breakthrough in the 82nd minute, breaking a 14-match Premier League goal drought with a left-footed volley, brought jubilation and relief to Manchester United. The chaotic and breathless nature of the game, marking the beginning of the Sir Jim Ratcliffe era of partial ownership, mirrored the team’s performance.
The goal followed Alejandro Garnacho’s equaliser in the 71st minute, both left-footed strikes turning the tide after boos greeted Aston Villa’s second goal. Despite a shaky first half and the watchful eyes of Sir Dave Brailsford, Manchester United managed to escape with a win.
The report to Ratcliffe from Brailsford, the new 25% shareholder, will likely highlight how the players are still fighting for manager Erik ten Hag, a crucial factor for his job security. The upcoming match against Nottingham Forest adds to the pressure as Ten Hag looks to stabilise his side.
Manchester United turnaround
Manchester United entered the match burdened by a dismal record of zero goals in their last four games across all competitions and just one point from the previous three league fixtures. This poor form prompted Erik ten Hag to make significant changes, with one of the most notable being the return of Christian Eriksen.
The Danish midfielder’s creative prowess was sorely missed, and his absence had been a key factor in United’s recent struggles. With Eriksen back in the lineup for the first time since the 1-0 win at Luton on November 11, there was hope that his artistry could spark a positive turnaround in the team’s fortunes. The decision to reintroduce a player known for his playmaking abilities underlined the manager’s strategy to address the lack of creativity that had contributed to the team’s recent downturn.
The opening period of the match saw Manchester United falter into near-farce territory, displaying a lack of poise and fundamental football attributes. Examples included Diogo Dalot’s errant crossfield pass, leading to a Villa opportunity, and Marcus Rashford’s overly forceful delivery to Rasmus Højlund. The team’s strategy remained elusive despite manager Erik Ten Hag’s post-defeat mantra of “sticking to the plan,” relying on counterattacks that were evident but lacked precision.
Unai Emery, Aston Villa’s coach, expressed his frustration on the touchline as mistakes, particularly from Dalot, could have been capitalised on by Villa. The turning point came when Villa’s John McGinn scored from a free-kick, with André Onana again at fault. Despite a VAR check, the goal stood as Leon Bailey was deemed not interfering. Disaster struck again for United as McGinn’s corner found Clément Lenglet, who headed the ball to Leander Dendoncker for a second goal, leaving Ten Hag and his team in a state of disaster and shame.
The paragraph describes a series of missed opportunities and frustration for Manchester United in their attempts to break through against Aston Villa. Rashford’s shot went straight into Emiliano Martínez’s hands, Garnacho couldn’t connect in front of goal, and Dalot struggled to steady himself after slipping along the left. Adding to the woes were frequent offside calls, with Fernandes and Garnacho both guilty of being caught offside.
Despite these setbacks, Fernandes and Garnacho played crucial roles in orchestrating a goal initially ruled offside by VAR, much to the disappointment of manager Erik ten Hag. As United entered desperation mode, Rashford’s efforts were thwarted by a correct throw-in decision, prompting a passionate reaction from Ten Hag on the touchline.
Finally, the goal drought was broken when Fernandes stole the ball and set up Rashford, who, in turn, assisted Garnacho for a successful slide-in. This breakthrough hinted at the possibility of a rousing comeback for United, with Garnacho and Højlund emerging as critical contributors to their resurgence.
Source Link: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/dec/26/manchester-united-aston-villa-premier-league-match-report
