Marcus Rashford the one bright spark as class dunces Man United earn a D

Matt Jones - Editor 08:39 03/10/2018
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  • Manchester United were held to a drab 0-0 draw at home by Valencia in the Champions League as the misery mounted for the club and under fire manager Jose Mourinho.

    A bright start from the home side drifted rapidly into all too familiar mediocrity as Mourinho collected another unwanted statistic – it is the first time in his career he’s gone four games without a win.

    Here is our report card from a dull and dour European night under the Old Trafford lights.

    30 SECOND-REPORT

    Mourinho would have been desperate for a response from his side following a limp and lifeless performance in their 3-1 hiding by the Hammers at the weekend – and he initially got it. United, underpinned by Marcus Rashford’s effervescence, roared into life against Los Che, but a failure to create any chances of note ultimately led to the visitors growing in confidence, leading to some very familiar issues for the hosts.

    The energetic Rashford was reduced to a couple of testing shots from distance as initial intricacy were replaced by a stark lack of imagination.

    This is a United team woefully short on confidence right now and it’s difficult to fathom just how Mourinho can resuscitate their rapidly flatlining season.

    Marcus Rashford was the one positive for United.

    Marcus Rashford was the one positive for United.

    THE GOOD

    Marcus Rashford – Gave his army of acolytes calling for him to get more minutes plenty to cheer as he looked easily United’s most potent threat. The most surprising element to his sporadic bouts of playing time this season is why he continues to struggle for minutes while senior stars continue to underperform ahead of him.

    Paul Pogba had another up and down evening while Alexis Sanchez cut a forlorn and frustrated figure as he was barely able to find a red shirt or offer any dynamism from out on the right.

    On the opposite flank, Rashford poked and probed Valencia’s defence, getting off six shots and generally tormenting right-back Cristiano Piccini who endured an uncomfortable evening.

    Valencia’s approach – Gone are the days when the Theatre of Dreams provided the platform for a catalogue of Hollywood storylines for the home side and gave any visitor who appeared under the Old Trafford lights stage fright.

    If the likes of Huddersfield and Stoke aren’t timidly reduced to tears in the tunnel before kick-off anymore, neither will one of Spain’s biggest teams be.

    United’s start was bold and bright but after they struggled to break through, Valencia set out their stall, defending deep and daring United to break them down. They couldn’t and Los Che’s emboldened display belied their lowly mid-table position back home.

    THE BAD

    Lack of cutting edge – While the appetite and effort was refreshingly improved from the men in red, ultimately this is a team that has little acumen when it comes to the final third of the pitch.

    The added pace instilled in the team via Rashford’s introduction elicited a roaring start, yet that soon petered out when United’s glaring lack of ingenuity come to bare.

    Their inability to penetrate limited visitors who grew in confidence was painfully familiar to the Old Trafford faithful, who soon retreated to solitude after their side’s bright start had stirred them. Alexis Sanchez’s 69.4 per cent pass success rate spoke volumes for blunt United.

    Deja vu – This encounter was eerily similar to United’s last 16 encounter with Valencia’s compatriots Sevilla last season. The Andalusians were struggling domestically yet were worryingly superior in every department to the Red Devils.

    United welcomed a side floundering in 14th position in La Liga, who are four points above rock-bottom Leganes. Hardly a side to strike fear into them.

    Marcelino’s side possess some talented players in Spain striker Rodrigo and Portugal winger Goncalo Guedes yet aren’t brimming with talent. They caused far too much panic in dangerous areas for United.

    TACTICAL TURNING POINT

    Ant-e up – The introduction of Anthony Martial was a bit belated considering the scoreline and yet another inept outing from Sanchez.

    Within seconds of being introduced 15 minutes from time, the Frenchman’s feet were causing Valencia problems. His trickery tempted the abysmal Piccini into a foul, the Italian yellow carded for a crude hack that was right on the edge of the box.

    Rashford’s ensuing, dipping free-kick brushed the crossbar. Why didn’t we see him sooner?

    VERDICTS

    MAN UNITED: D

    The build-up to this game was littered with speculation of Mourinho having divided the dressing room and certain players not playing for him – but for the first 20 minutes that seemed unfounded.

    United sprang out of the traps with the youthful exuberance of Rashford driving the hosts forward. But while United profited down the left, the fact a goal was not forthcoming soon sucked the life out of those on the pitch and in the stands.

    VALENCIA: C-

    Marcelino might well have feared the worst as he brought his side to Manchester perhaps expecting a backlash after the hopeless loss at West Ham. But what his side encountered was a United side drastically lacking in ideas, confidence and belief.

    Like their opponents, they lacked quality in the final third but you got a feeling if they could have engineered a goal, it would have very well been enough.

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