Manchester United got the post Erik ten Hag era off to a convincing start, defeating Leicester City 5-2 in the Carabao Cup.
Earlier this week, United sacked Ten Hag, bringing the Dutchman’s time at Old Trafford to an end just months after having extended his contract. The 54-year-old has been replaced in the interim by Ruud van Nistelrooy, who will potentially be in charge for United’s weekend clash with Chelsea depending on negotiations with Sporting CP over Ruben Amorim.
However, if Van Nistelrooy can oversee another performance like this against Chelsea, then United’s INEOS backed board will be all smiles. They battered the Foxes at Old Trafford, with a braces from Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes, alongside a goal from Alejandro Garnacho seeing them past Steve Cooper’s side.
And here are four things Ruud van Nistelrooy got right in United’s convincing 5-2 win…
Starting fast
Manchester United effectively put the game to bed in the first half against Leicester, with Casemiro opening the scoring on 15 minutes. On 28 minutes, they doubled their lead through Alejandro Garnacho, who was lively throughout the contest.
While Leicester grabbed a goal back through Bilal El Khannouss, a deflected free kick from Bruno Fernandes alongside a second for Casemiro effectively put the game to bed before the second half.
With how poorly United have played this term, a poor start against Leicester could have seen the game unravel fast. However, it didn’t come to that. United were the better, more dominant side against Leicester and deserved to go through to the next round of the League Cup.
Casemiro’s footballing death may have been greatly exaggerated
“Leave the football before the football leaves you…the football has left him,” said Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher last season when speaking about Casemiro’s performance during United’s 4-0 defeat away to Crystal Palace.
Last term, a defensive crisis saw the Brazilian have to fill in at centre-back, a position that frankly, he was awful in. However, against Leicester, the former Real Madrid star looked back to his best. He scored a stunning long distance strike in the first half, before adding a second with a close range finish which he blasted home.
He should have also scored a hat-trick in the first half too, but nodded a Bruno Fernandes free-kick inches wide.
Defence still needs work
Both Leicester City’s second half goals came from poor set piece defence from United.
(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
While Bilal El Khannouss’ goal the Foxes was a sensational strike, it all came from a botched set piece clearance by United, with the ball falling to the Moroccan inside the area where he produced a daisy cutter of a finish.
Then right before half-time, the Foxes scored a second through Conor Coady, who tapped home from close range after another set piece mix up. On a night that saw United impress in attack, they went to sleep at set piece time, arguably the only blot on Van Nistelrooy’s copy book.
Better in attack
Manchester United’s last five home games at Old Trafford have been a mixed bag. In their last home outing, they beat Brentford 2-1. Prior to that however, they lost to Spurs 3-0, drew with FC Twente 1-1, beat Barnsley 7-0 and lost to Liverpool 3-0.
(Image: Getty Images)
So it’s safe to say it’s been a pretty chaotic opening couple of months at Old Trafford so far this term. That said, bar the two errors from set pieces, United managed to enjoy themselves for a change on the pitch, looking much more fluid in attack for a change.
They routinely carved through Leicester’s defence, and could have scored more had they been even better in front of goal. But, for a team that never scored five goals against Premier League opposition under Ten Hag, the win over Leicester was certainly an impressive one.
Finally some good vibes at Old Trafford
For United supporters, it must have felt weird watching a performance where they can come away from a match feeling good about their team.
(Image: Manchester United via Getty Imag)
For nearly a year now under Ten Hag up until his sacking this week, the vibes at Old Trafford have been frankly abysmal. The INEOS led board now have an opportunity to reset with the prospective appointment of Ruben Amorim, who looks set to become Ten Hag’s successor.
If named the new United boss, Amorim will have to give the fans something to get excited about after watching Ten Hag’s dreary, muddled football.