Wayne Rooney’s late header gave Manchester United an important Champions League victory on Tuesday evening, not least for ending the side’s run of six hours without scoring. Here’s four things we learned from the win:
Schweinsteiger and Carrick can work together
It’s important to stress that Michael Carrick and Bastian Schweinsteiger probably shouldn’t play together in most matches but, in a game where United were almost certain to have the majority of possession, the midfield duo combined to give the home side almost total control of the ball.
The pair didn’t have the best day against a high pressing Arsenal last month, but when United are probing an opposition that sits back in defence, they can dominate the midfield. They were rarely troubled by CSKA’s attackers, with Schweinsteiger dictating the tempo in midfield and Carrick’s cutting pass to Jesse Lingard playing a major part in United’s winning goal.
Important win for van Gaal
This victory was a vital one in every sense. Not only has it put United top of the group and in a great position to qualify for the knockout stages, but it ended the team’s well-documented search for a goal. That will have been a welcome sight for the home fans, who made their feelings well known throughout the match.
United played better than in recent outings, creating a lot more chances to score, but had Rooney not scored that winning goal there would surely have been a frustrated reaction from supporters. Cries of ‘we’re Man United, we want to attack’ and boos following Anthony Martial being substituted highlighted a growing impatience amongst some fans with Louis van Gaal’s style of play. It’s just a good job the Dutchman emerged with a victory from this game.
Jesse Lingard an important player
The reaction to Jesse Lingard’s performance has so far been mixed, but the winger’s assist for Rooney’s header was a sublime piece of vision and technique and produced at an incredibly important time.
Some might suggest Lingard was wasteful in possession for the most part though, often being stopped by defenders as he ran with the ball and even spurning a couple of chances to score himself. Louis van Gaal might not be too pleased with the Englishman losing the ball, but it was refreshing at least to see a United player take some risks with the ball.
There are things to work on in Lingard’s game, for sure. But if he can continue to display an attacking mentality and take risks on the ball, he can be an important part of United’s squad this season.
Rooney better at ten?
Wayne Rooney’s best position is a never-ending debate to which not even the player himself seems to know the answer, but he certainly looked better in a slightly deeper role against CSKA.
It wasn’t an outstanding performance from the England striker, but playing in a central role behind Anthony Martial seemed to get him more involved in the game. He can play better, but Rooney did manage to create a few chances in the game and get himself into more advanced positions- a welcome sight given his recent displays.
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