RED RAMPAGE
Brighton 0 Man Utd 3: Bruno Fernandes scores stunning double after Greenwood opener to lead Champions League charge
IT HAS been a long time since we have been able to say this.
But last night, it was an absolute pleasure watching Manchester United play football. Who would have thought.
8
8
8
An outstanding performance on the south coast was further proof that, just maybe, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer could be building something special.
This was the type of brutal away victory which United fans have been dying to see, particularly away from home where they have still not been very good, despite an overall improvement in results.
Before the game, Solskjaer lobbed a grenade in the direction of his senior strikers but it was Mason Greenwood who threw it back.
The United manager had warned that he wanted more from Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford, warning that he is prepared to buy a replacement.
But in a stunning away performance which stretched United’s unbeaten run to 15 games and saw them move to fifth, it was teenager Greenwood who proved a point with a terrific goal and a brilliant assist.
And this was the latest proof that this kid is not only one hell of a talent.
If he continues improving like this, maybe United do not need a striker after all and they can spend the money elsewhere.
On a day when a move for Jadon Sancho also appeared less likely as United only want to pay Dortmund £50m, Solskjaer’s team were a real menace going forward.
It is frightening when you consider that Greenwood was born on October 1 2001 - exactly a month after England won 5-1 away to Germany in a World Cup qualifier.
But he scored an outstanding first before Bruno Fernandes - and what an incredible piece of business his transfer was - grabbed the second soon after.
And then United’s two most exciting players combined with Greenwood delivering an outstanding pass for Fernandes to make it 3-0.
It was a thing of beauty. United had managed just four wins on their travels this season putting them just 10 in the away League table.
MAN UTD NEWS LIVE: Follow for the latest United news
But here, they looked solid in defence albeit helped by an opposing team which lacked energy.
They had a wonderful spark in midfield, where Fernandes and Paul Pogba - starting together only for the second time - already look as though they have had a couple of seasons together to perfect an understanding.
And up front, they looked a danger with every raid into the home area but particularly Greenwood.
In fairness to Rashford, he is still clearly lacking sharpness after a back injury injury while Martial is an incredibly infuriating player.
For Brighton, this was a nightmare they will look to forget. And in many respects, the game against United was a free pass with Saturday’s lunchtime visit to Norwich more important.
That is obviously why both Neal Maupay and Aaron Mooy were left on the bench and Brighton went defensively.
But there were occasions when United took apart the back four with some clever, incisive passing.
In one clever move straight from the training ground, which started with Harry Maguire switching play, Pogba rolled the ball towards Fernandes and he will have been disappointed to see his decent effort strike the foot of the post.
Yet once again, United tore through their defence only on this occasion Greenwood lashed the ball into the net with such style and remarkable confidence for such a young player.
LATEST FOOTBALL NEWS
The opening goal will go down as an assist for Aaron Wan-Bissaka but this all down to Greenwood as he cut in from the right, rushed into the area, got clear of Dale Stephens, briefly tormented Lewis Dunk with a couple of step overs and then stuck the ball past home keeper Maty Ryan at the near post.
And in the same corner, albeit from a more central area, Fernandes struck the ball past Ryan who should have done better, even if the shot took a small deflection.
Pogba was the provider while also credit to Luke Shaw for initially getting behind the home defence, albeit a bit too easily for Graham Potter’s liking.
Despite a bright start to the second half, United delivered a classic counter attack with a type of move that the best manager in United’s history would have loved.
8
8
8
8
Nemanja Matic started the move with a brilliant pass out wide, Greenwood showed pace and confidence to tear forward and while his cross was perfect, Fernades still displayed incredible technique to score with a goal.
It was scored at the end where the United fans would normally have been but instead, millions would have been cheering at home.
Both Pogba and Fernandes were replaced just after the hour which was a sensible decision as the game was won.
Also United - still looking to end the season with two Cups - have a hell of a packed schedule and they could still be playing in August.
Solskjaer, against all the odds, is really making a mark.
It seems the fans have got their Manchester United back.
8
Topics