Manchester United struggled to break down a determined Benfica side on Wednesday, but an improved second-half performance saw them earn a narrow win to maintain their perfect record in Group A.
Their goal was rather fortuitous as Marcus Rashford’s free-kick had enough pace for Benfica keeper Mile Svilar to accidentally carry it over the line as he caught it.
It marred a historic debut for Svilar, who became the youngest keeper to start a Champions League game, but it meant another three points for United.
Here are three takeaways from Wednesday’s game…
Before Rashford’s goal, the young Englishman had also sent in a couple of corner kicks that looked like direct attempts on goal. Both of those attempts and the one that got his goal were signs of his immense talent, but you wouldn’t be unduly surprised if a manager were to get frustrated. After all, in all three of those situations, he would have been better served trying to find a teammate.
Regardless of how close you may come on occasion, scoring directly from a corner is highly unlikely, and Rashford’s free-kick – from a distance and an angle where shooting is not the ‘smart’ option – actually went straight into the goalkeeper’s hands.
Except, of course, that he forced the keeper into an unfortunate error, carrying the ball over the line. Whether it was an unwavering self-belief or naivety, Rashford was rewarded for the kind of attempt that was a clear indication of his young years.
He showed that youthful optimism on other occasions too, beating the Benfica full-backs with clever flicks and turns, and Anthony Martial did the same a couple of times after replacing him.
In fact, Martial had a Rashford moment, as well, shooting and forcing a save from a narrow angle when passing would have been the better option. But he saw a tiny opening and went for it. That’s what the best players do. And credit to Mourinho for backing the youngsters’ abilities.
Rashford and Martial are showing that Mourinho can trust youth.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan had a bright start to the season, and admittedly two games is a small sample size, but since the latest international break ended, the Armenian has looked a little off-colour.
Romelu Lukaku, meanwhile, was largely starved of service here, especially in the first half, as he was at Anfield on Saturday, but also struggled to fashion chances for himself – although he did put in a couple of excellent crosses in the first half that could have led to goals.
Two games is not enough to declare a slump, but it does beget the question – is the duo suffering from fatigue? A Saturday lunchtime game right after the international break, especially a high-intensity one such as Liverpool away, followed by a Champions League tie, is not the ideal way to ease your way back into things, and Lukaku and Mkhitaryan seem to be feeling the effects more than most.
It’s hard to see what Mourinho can do. Rashford limped off, so the option of playing him through the middle for at least one game to allow Lukaku some rest is likely gone, for now. Juan Mata could slot in for Mkhitaryan in the No. 10 role, but he seems to have grown accustomed to his wide right berth. Shockingly for a club that’s spent so much in recent years, United are short on options.
Mkhitaryan looks like he needs a rest – and so does Lukaku.
This was one of Daley Blind’s poorer games in a United shirt. He was often caught offside while looking straight across the line, he looked shaky in defence, and his contribution to United’s attacks was minimal.
It’s been masked by United’s strong start to the season, but Blind has been enduring a tough campaign so far. After a season in which he excelled at both centre-back and left-back, the Dutchman seems to have regressed.
His crossing has become less accurate and his link-up play with whoever is playing ahead of him has been less than stellar. It’s no surprise that Ashley Young is the first-choice left-back at the moment, Matteo Darmian is ahead of Blind in the pecking order as well, and Luke Shaw was in the travelling squad for this game as he continues his recovery from injury.
Blind needs to rediscover last season’s form quickly. Otherwise, his Manchester United days may be numbered.
Manchester United need Blind to show last season’s form.
