Debutant Alexis Sanchez helped steer Manchester United into the FA Cup fifth round with two assists as Jose Mourinho’s men eased past Yeovil 4-0.
The Chile forward laid on goals for Marcus Rashford and Ander Herrera, with Jesse Lingard and Romelu Lukaku glossing the score late on at Huish Park.
Here, we analyse the performance of United’s new signing.
STATISTICS
Goals – 0
Assists – 1
Shots – 2
Shots on target – 1
Touches – 93
Passes – 71
Key passes – 6
Dribbles – 1
Dispossessed – 2
Given Mourinho’s claim that United players were childish at Leicester - those were two particularly adult contributions from Sanchez
— James Robson (@JamesRobsonMEN) January 26, 2018
30-SECOND REPORT
Deployed on the left of a front three as Jose Mourinho set-up with a 4-3-3, Sanchez was comfortably United’s best player.
Before he was substituted in the 70th minute – with a rare smile on the bench to signal a job well done – the new signing had the most passes, most key passes, most touches and had registered an assist, maybe even two.
The Chilean was sharp and what United fans will like most about his display is that he shouldered the burden of being United’s main man in attack. The 29-year-old repeatedly searched for the difficult defense-splitting pass having been the outlet in transitions from defence to attack and wasn’t afraid to cut inside to link the play.
His strong running and tenacious movement made him troublesome to pick up and tricky to knock off the ball – leading to several reckless challenges from the Yeovil backline.
An archetypal Sanchez display and a fine debut having had a hand in the two opening goals.
GOT RIGHT
Driving runs inside – The Chilean was the obvious outlet on the left side but after getting the ball out of his feet, his immediate thought was to drive inside to create space for either the full back on a reverse or to stretch the Yeovil defence with a switched ball.
Link-up play – Hardly misplaced a shorter pass, even the killer through balls and his telepathic understanding with Juan Mata was noteworthy.
First touch – Whether under the high ball or on the end of a pinged in pass to feet, Sanchez’s control all game was sublime. His command of possession was computer-game like at times such was his ease to bring the ball under his control.
Wort rate – Luke Shaw talked in midweek of Sanchez displaying crazy skills in training but it was his insane work rate which deserved attention against Yeovil. With and without the ball he was the image of intensity.
GOT WRONG
Passing – Sanchez’s shorter passes were great but his longer balls, particularly crossfield, were a little inaccurate. He hit 14 long passes, nine were considered accurate, but at least three went out for a throw and even the ones which found a target hung in the air and required adjustment from the receiver.
Set pieces – Mitigating circumstance with the dreadful pitch hardly servicing quality deliveries but given the duty of set-pieces, his corners were flat and a freekick in the first-half was comfortably saved.
Would much rather watch a player like Sánchez who actually attempts the difficult passes rather than someone who shies away from them. Might lose the ball and possession occasionally, but it will eventually come off. Has played well so far.
— Liam Canning (@LiamPaulCanning) January 26, 2018
KEY MOMENTS
21st min KEY PASS: Sanchez’s quick feet creates an opening for Rashford to make a run through the inside left channel to meet it. He gathers but running out of space the ball just slithers out for a goalkick.
24th min KEY PASS: Carrick tackle and pass sets up a counter and the move ends with Sanchez swivelling in the box to tee up McTominay, but Krysiak is alert and gets a strong hand to the midfielder’s low strike.
39th min SHOT: Mata pings a pass into Sanchez’s feet and the Chilean controls perfectly to work a yard of space on the right-side of the box. His shot, however, is poor and he drags the effort well wide.
41st min KEY PASS: Dire defending from Yeovil leads to the opener. Rashford breaks and feeds Sanchez who drives into the unoccupied space on the left. He plays a return pass to Rashford who looks to have been stopped by James but the defender’s attempt to shield the ball back to his keeper allows Rashford to nip in and finish.
50th min KEY PASS: Excellent vision from Sanchez who chips a delightful ball from the left wing into Rashford who darts into the box and again evades the attention of Yeovil defence. He looks certain to double his and United’s tally until a crucial challenge sends the ball wide for a corner.
62nd min ASSIST: Counter-attacking excellence underpinned by the positivity of Sanchez. United break from a Yeovil corner by playing it up to Mata at halfway. He spins his man, has time to switch the ball to Sanchez who has Rashford and Herrera sprinting to his left. He cuts inside, reverses the ball to Herrera on the left of box and he takes the ball in his stride to hammer a diagonal strike into the opposite corner.
71st min SUBSTITUTION: Sanchez’s United debut comes to an end with the introduction of Jesse Lingard.
VERDICT
Created both opening goals, was United’s sole source of attacking thrust for much of the game. His tenacious work rate hallmarked a fine debut in a United shirt.
Granted, it was Yeovil, but the qualities of Sanchez were on display and will no doubt be carried through until the end of the season.
RATING: 8/10
All statistics are compiled using whoscored.com
