Manchester United vs Barcelona talking points: Fred characterizing Erik ten Hag’s transformation | Soccer News

Fred characterizing Ten Hag’s transformation

Manchester United’s momentum continues and the street to Budapest turns into clearer with this well-known victory, a primary since 2008 over Barcelona. It was a superb workforce turnaround backed by heroic protection and behind all of it was one other nice efficiency from Fred.

A thunderclap rolled round Previous Trafford as Erik ten Hag walked out after staging his personal Reassembled and confirmed as soon as once more how he can change a recreation. Towards Leeds, towards Leicester and now right here with Barcelona having didn’t learn the script within the first half.

It was a sound that hadn’t been heard this loud for many years when this membership was within the doldrums. After a summer time, probably two, dominated by discuss of Frenkie de Jong’s arrival at Manchester United, it might be the person he might have changed who would eclipse him within the second half.

“His position was to cease Frenkie de Jong and be like a mosquito throughout him. And he did. A superb efficiency,” Ten Hag stated afterwards.

Successful 13 of their 16 away video games this season – shedding to Bayern Munich, Inter Milan and Actual Madrid – Barcelona had been higher than their hosts.

However Fred, who was beginning his seventh straight recreation within the absence of Christian Eriksen – out till not less than mid-April – would drag his facet by the horns and switch United’s tide.

Solely Marcus Rashford (17) has scored extra targets for Manchester United at Previous Trafford this season than Fred (5), whose shot additionally led to Antony’s decisive winner.

There have been after all different essential gamers on this stage. Casemiro’s affect is felt, David de Gea takes motion to thwart Jules Kounde. Within the phrases of Roy Keane, nice gamers are simply doing their job.

However Fred has so typically been the scapegoat. No extra. Not underneath Ten Hag. Again in his personal field to clear himself in stoppage time, moments later, beginning the press from the entrance.

‘Fred, Fred will tear you aside once more,’ sang the Stretford Finish.

“It is so good to listen to your title being sung by the followers,” Fred stated, shedding his prepare of thought with a smile because the shouting grew louder. “It was a great recreation, however we now have to maintain going.”

Fred’s transformation typifies all the pieces good about Ten Hag’s Manchester United on the best way again. And on Wembley.
Land Ben

Bruno’s return helps encourage Man Utd

Bruno Fernandes has spoken in regards to the historical past of Manchester United’s nice comebacks after the turnaround towards Barcelona. He supplied his personal spectacular response Thursday evening.

After firing an early straight on Marc-André ter Stegen when he regarded set to attain after which awarding an pointless penalty for an entanglement with Alejandro Balde, the participant Xavi had merely known as ‘the Portuguese’ was spending an evening in neglect. .

However finally, he can be central to that United victory. For targets, it was his whipping move that acquired Fred transformed and it was his fast ft that brought on the issues that led to Antony’s conversion.

Since his Man Utd debut in February 2020, solely 4 different gamers have been concerned in additional targets in Europe’s high competitions – Mohamed Salah, Karim Benzema, Kylian Mbappe and Robert Lewandowski. He is up there with one of the best for offensive manufacturing and regarded an actual risk when he was moved inside to play No.10.

However Fernandes additionally talks in regards to the hearth he brings to this workforce. Sporting the captain’s armband, he is a frontrunner for this workforce together with his perspective – and provides a bonus, which was evident when he had phrases with Xavi or kicked the ball previous Frenkie de Jong on the bottom. This second could possibly be an attention-grabbing speaking level if De Jong arrives as a brand new signing at Carrington this summer time.

The primary half of Man Utd’s season was dominated by discuss of one other Portuguese. However this one would be the key to their success on 4 fronts within the run-in.
Peter Smith

Half-time change wins for United

Manchester United have scored 19 targets from substitutes in all competitions this season, essentially the most of any workforce in Europe’s large 5 leagues. Antony’s will ranks among the many most essential and follows a vital change from Erik ten Hag on the break.

Wout Weghorst has began all 11 video games since signing for United final month and is a transparent favourite for his compatriot. However Ten Hag is ruthless sufficient to acknowledge when one thing is not working and his fast half-time change helped his facet reverse that tie.

Bruno Fernandes moved within the center, Jadon Sancho returned to the left. Rashford went up entrance and supplied that risk behind. Antoine performed on the appropriate. It labored. Fernandes arrange the equalizer after wandering to the left. Antony scored the winner.

Ten Hag felt out of choices for many of his tenure. Little question he’ll need extra subsequent season. However he has already proven himself to have the ability to establish what is required in a recreation and discover the answer. He made the distinction towards Barcelona.
Adam Bate

Martinez shines as Man Utd conflict on all fronts

Going through among the best No.9s on this planet appears to have ran into Lisandro Martinez extra occasions than he’d like to recollect this season.

He has already confronted Erling Haaland and Harry Kane within the Premier League, Kylian Mbappe en path to a World Cup winner’s medal. On Thursday, he confronted Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski and got here out on high.

Though Lewandowski scored from the penalty spot, he was largely absent. The aim he scored was his solely shot of the sport and he did not create every other probabilities. It had an xG of 0.79.

Martinez was an enormous affect in maintaining the Barcelona striker quiet, together with the remainder of a gifted – if not exhausted – Barcelona squad. He gained three of his 4 tackles, made 4 clearances and gained 70% of his duels on the bottom.

At one level within the first half, with the ball at his ft, Martinez motioned for his teammates to settle down and maintain their composure. And that is precisely how he performed – laser-focused on clearing each ball, intercepting and stopping Barcelona from spoiling the celebration at Previous Trafford.

It was a powerful efficiency from a participant rising in his position at Manchester United. If they’re to have any probability of successful silverware this season – bear in mind, they’re nonetheless in all 4 competitions – Martinez could have a say of their success.
Charlotte Swamp