There was some confusion when Jose Mourinho’s starting line-up was revealed ahead of Sunday’s clash against Chelsea. It showed something of the Portuguese’s priorities that with Michael Carrick and Zlatan Ibrahimovic only able to play 90 minutes once a week that they had played the whole game against Anderlecht last Thursday and sat out the more prestigious visit of his former side on Sunday. Prior to their victory at Old Trafford, victory in the Europa League represented Manchester United’s best chance of a return to the Champions League. After defeating the league leaders it still might but it also showed an alternate future for the Jose Mourinho’s side.
Marcus Rashford led the line alongside newly-minted Jesse Lingard, forming a pacy and direct duo that caused chaos for the visitors. In the first meeting between the two earlier in the season, Ibrahimovic had played as a lone forward and looked very much alone, here the two English attackers offered a much different threat. Both Lingard and Rashford have played most of the season on the flanks and looked very much at home making direct runs into the space vacated by Chelsea’s wing-backs. Rashford showcased his pace and power to hold the ball up in the channels while he waited for reinforcements, but also the directness to create his own shot. His ability to run in behind was a contrast to much of Manchester United’s attacking play this season and crucial in giving his side the lead.
After the match Mourinho described his decision to crowbar Rashford into a variety of tactical roles this season thusly: “I think for his tactical education and culture this season is a phenomenal season for him with an amazing range of different experiences”. What was abundantly clear is that the young forward needs to play through the centre and the centre alone. With the future of Ibrahimovic yet to be resolved and a move for Atletico Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann still to materialise, Rashford and Lingard offered Manchester United fans an alternative view of their attacking future. Youth, pace, excitement, and eschewing imported superstars for hometown heroics — how terribly naive.
It’s hard to imagine Jose Mourinho, with his love for ageing warhorse forwards such as Didier Drogba and Diego Milito, and Manchester United, with it’s love of commercial revenue and global sponsorship deals, entrusting a 19-year old from Wythenshawe with responsibility of leading the club’s attack rather than a minimum of one international superstar.
While his mobility is an issue, and will only continue to wane, Ibrahimovic has impressed as a target man, creator, and poacher. The Swede would be welcomed back to the club if he decides to extend his stay. His lack of pace may stop the odd counter-attack but his aerial dominance and ability to improvise have proven to crucial to breaking through against teams which sit back and defend deep against Mourinho’s side.
The Portuguese is a manager who’s greatest strength is blunting his opponent’s attacking weapons before then exploiting their weaknesses. His decision to start Rashford was motivated by tactical considerations with the striker able to harry the Chelsea defenders and allow the home side to play on the break — something only exacerbated by the England international’s well taken opener.
Rashford should be hopeful of starting more games up front for Manchester United given the club’s congested fixture schedule for the remainder season. He can only hope to impress on these outings so that he show himself to be more than just a tactical weapon. His manager has shown little loyalty to the young stars under his tutelage at Old Trafford. After the game Mourinho noted Rashford’s failure to convert an early chance, a snap shot from distance, as a sign of his low confidence. Mourinho didn’t expand on what might have caused this lack of confidence — potentially being shunted around the starting line-up or being repeatedly chided publicly by his manager.
The day before Marcus Rashford opened the scoring at Old Trafford, 23-year old Harry Kane reached the 20 goal mark for the third successive season in the Premier League. Rashford, four years his junior, has shown enough ability since making his debut 14 months ago to suggest that he could follow Kane into that exclusive club given the opportunity. That last word is the key. On Sunday he showed the talent, it’s up to his manager to grant him the stage.
Mourinho concluded his thoughts on Rashford on Sunday by remarking that “it was good experience for him [Rashford] to play against such a good team like Chelsea”. It seems that the England forward may still have to wait to graduate from understudy to the leading role.
