De Gea is too good for this: Five things learned as Man Utd leave it late to beat Young Boys

In a gripping night of football at Old Trafford, Manchester United left it late to beat Young Boys 1-0.

A bright first half was followed by a mostly miserable second, and it looked like United were all set to drop some crucial points until stoppage time when Marouane Fellaini bagged an enormous late winner to send The Red Devils through to the round of 16.

1. Second Hoof FC

United have been a second half side this season, coming to life after half-time to surge to victory even if the performance in the first half was nothing but pure misery that saw the opponent take the lead. Only Manchester City have really been able to resist this so far, even Juventus fell victim to Second Half FC.

But against Young Boys, United appeared to have inverted things. Their first half was bright, their second miserable, then the subs only served to further fracture United’s fragile identity.

Not if Marouane Fellaini had anything to say about it. With all ideas exhausted, all genuine football visions blinded by fear, United went back to their primal instincts. Luke Shaw hoofed a long pass towards the box, Romelu Lukaku jumped and bobbed it on with his head, Marouane Fellaini controlled it (with his hand) and slotted home the winner. A dramatic winner, an improbable winner in terms of the fact that it arrived but an absolutely expected winner in terms of style. Just as against United, the hoof to Fellaini paid dividends.

2. One step forward

When Manchester United fans saw their XI for tonight, they rejoiced! Luke Shaw! Marcus Rashford up-front! Fred! Goodness, it’s Fred! This was a (mostly) positive team, and there was hope they would play like that.

And then they did! Manchester United flew at Young Boys for the first half at Old Trafford. They moved with purpose. Jesse Lingard was at the hub of things, keying off attacks with his sensational movement and link-play.

Rashford was in an incredible rhythm. Making use of Lingard’s great movement along with Martial stretching Young Boys wide, Rashford was like the wind blowing through long grass. Elusive and ethereal. This was the kind of football Manchester United should be playing.

3. Two steps back

But this was still José Mourinho’s Manchester United. So inexplicably there was the presence of Nemanja Matic and Marouane Fellaini in midfield (although Fellaini played well as an attacking pivot).

Moreover, as much fun as the forwards attacking movement was, there was definitely the sense that they were making it up as they went. And sure enough, once we got into the second half and Young Boys grew in confidence, United began to wilt and look even more toothless than they did in the first half (where they missed several good chances). Young Boys cut the home side to bits at will and if they were a better team, with more talent in attack, United could have been destroyed.

Then came the changes, and whilst it was nice to see Pogba be introduced, the clearly fatigued Romelu Lukaku also came on. And to make matters worse it was Lingard and Fred, two of the three best United players on the pitch, who came off. Quite typically, the final half hour of the game devolved into pure nonsense as all the verve United had dissipated into the Manchester night.

4. Fred is good, who knew?!

Much to everyone’s surprise, Fred started this game. It’s not that Fred isn’t good, everyone pretty much recognises that he’s a special talent, but his place in the Manchester United side has never seemed, well, there. José Mourinho clearly prefers Nemanja Matic, and if it emerged that Fred was only signed by the club to prevent Manchester City from securing him, there would be few surprised by that revelation.

But still, he started this game and played for an hour, showing exactly what he can bring to The Red Devils. He drove the ball forward with regularity, giving United’s attacks a speed and thrust that they often lack. One can see the value in playing him as the advanced midfielder like tonight, but the potential when he plays at the base of midfield and ends up providing Paul Pogba with the kind of quality passes is enough to make United fans salivate at the prospect (even if they’ll probably have to wait for Mourinho to leave).

5. David de Gea is too good for this

David De Gea has been Manchester United’s player of the season in four of the last five seasons. He’s performed miracles on a regular basis since Sir Alex Ferguson left the club, and is pretty much the only reason United haven’t fallen off into mid-table obscurity. Even Mourinho’s much-vaunted “improvement” in 2017/18, finishing second, was wholly down to De Gea having a miracle season.

This year he’s been back to normal, which for De Gea means doing absolutely absurd things just semi-regularly instead of in every single game. Tonight against Young Boys, the Spaniard didn’t do too much for the first half but in the second period he was called on when a Young Boys shot was deflected en route to goal and he somehow had to dive backwards, arcing his body to somehow claw the ball out from the goal-line and keep United’s sheet clean.

It was a baffling and impossible save, and it’s absurd that he keeps having to do these things. He deserves better than this ramshackle United side, and there won’t be many loyal reds who hold it against him if he chooses to move on.

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