Ole Gunnar Solskjaer‘s first match as permanent Manchester United manager ended in a 2-1 victory over Watford at Old Trafford on Saturday.
The hosts got off to a slow start but Marcus Rashford broke the deadlock 28 minutes into proceedings, scoring his 10th Premier League goal of the season.
Watford wouldn’t roll over though and continued to challenge the Red Devils but Anthony Martial scored a second in the 72nd minute. The visitors pulled one back through Abdoulaye Doucoure in the final minute of regulation time but Solskjaer’s side managed to hold out for all three points.
RAZOR SHARP RASHFORD
This season has been something of a coming of age for Rashford. Despite Jose Mourinho’s exasperated comments – and reactions on the touchline – over his finishing during the first half of the season, he was still the one who provided a spark in an otherwise flat United side.
Since Solskjaer’s appointment over the festive period, Rashford has elevated his game to the next level. With the full backing of a manager who appears determined to help him realise his full potential, the 21-year-old’s development has accelerated.
So often made to play out wide owing to his searing pace and willingness to track back, Rashford has excelled as the main striker and looked ever so threatening in that role against Watford.
He consistently ran in behind the visiting defence, leaving his marker for dead immediately when possession would turn over. United’s first attack was down to his movement with Paul Pogba playing a ball down the left channel for him to chase.
The England striker was sharp as a tack again when Luke Shaw did brilliantly to win possession and thread a sublime through ball perfectly into his path. Rashford gave the pass the finishing touch it deserved, lifting it over the onrushing Ben Foster.
His rehabilitation over the international break seems to have worked wonders for his all-round play as he linked up superbly with Anthony Martial in particular.
45 - Since his debut for Manchester United in February 2016, Marcus Rashford has scored 45 goals for the club in all competitions, more than any other player. Local. #MUNWAT pic.twitter.com/IDO8Xj6jCF
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 30, 2019
WATFORD WARNINGS
The hosts may have drawn first blood, but in truth, Rashford’s goal had come against the run of play. The Hornets started the better side and swarmed United’s 18-yard box on several occasions. It took some pretty desperate defending to keep them at bay.
And defence is precisely the area which will concern Solskjaer the most. Phil Jones got off to a shaky start, getting dragged out of position repeatedly and leaving gaping holes in the heart of the defence. Javi Gracia deserves credit for his decision to field a two-pronged attack of Troy Deeney and Gerard Deulofeu.
The aerial threat and hold up play of Deeney coupled with the acceleration and quick feet of Deulofeu was a nightmare for United’s centre-backs. The sheer volume of misplaced passes in midfield only invited more pressure as well until Doucoure scored a consolation goal at the death – the least Watford deserved for their efforts.
Yes, Ole’s at the wheel and United pose a significant threat in attack but serious issues remain in defence, one which will soon have to square-up against Barcelona in the Champions League quarter-finals.
Man Utd 2-1 Watford FT:
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) March 30, 2019
Shots: 8-20
Pass accuracy: 79%-81%
Chances created: 6-14
Possession: 51%-49%
Goals from Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial give Man Utd the three points in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's first game as permanent manager. pic.twitter.com/0AmQjo55MS
SLUGGISH MIDFIELD
How Solskjaer would love to have only his defence keep him up at night. Watford’s visit to Old Trafford though raised questions over United’s midfield as well. Pogba was far from his best but he was still the only one in central midfield creating problems for the opposition.
Ander Herrera was sloppy and lost the ball far too often, even under minimal pressure. He had a pass accuracy of 70 per cent when he was hooked in the 62nd minute. Only the two goalkeepers had a worse completion rate from the 22 players who started the game.
Nemanja Matic and Juan Mata just looked leggy, struggling to keep up with a game that was largely end-to-end. The introductions of Jesse Lingard and Andreas Pereira brought about an improvement but there were a few players on show in this encounter who shouldn’t be in United’s first XI anymore.
