For the football of
Marcus Rashford
, for the goal and the opportunism of
Bruno Fernandes
and, above all, for the head of
Victor Lindelof
, who saved the victory from behind the posts in the last stretch,
Manchester United
already feels the qualification for the next one is theirs.
Champions League
after 1-0 against
Aston Villa
, who lost after 10 games despite
the very good performance of Emiliano Dibu Martínez
, who was the best of the Birmingham team.
Until the last play, Unai Emery's team was looking for him, who was resurrected after a weak first half in which
he survived thanks to the good saves by the Argentine
- Emiliano Buendía was also a starter, who was replaced 15 minutes from the end.
In his final spirited ambition, without much fanfare, he cornered his rival close to
David de Gea
, who finished with a clean sheet thanks to a remarkable save from Lindelof on the line and with a header, before a shot from
Douglas Luiz
.
The Swedish central defender was one of the decisive reasons for United's triumph, who deserved to win beyond the suffering with which he completed his victory.
Casemiro's first half, Bruno Fernandes' goal, the only one of the match in the 39th minute, and the amount of offensive resources that Marcus Rashford showed were the arguments of Erik ten Hag's team, where the injured Lisandro Martínez was not called
up nor the youthful Alejandro Garnacho.
Dibu Martínez's effort was not enough.
Photo: AFP
Even without a goal, Rashford is indispensable for this Manchester United.
In his current moment, indisputable, among the qualities he possesses, with his precise distance, his boundless stride and his absolute determination this season, he is a gold mine for the Red
Devils
.
He challenged the Aston Villa defense time and time again.
And it was he who promoted the goal with which the duel at Old Trafford was decided.
You hardly need anything to generate risk.
In this case it was a simple head clearance by Casemiro from a long serve by Dibu Martínez.
On the verge of legal position, later validated by VAR, he was undetectable and unreachable for the Aston Villa defense.
The space granted to the attacker, inappropriate for this level, incredible in such a simple action, was a highway for a man as quick as Rashford, who planted himself in the area, crossed his shot with his right to the other side and caused the stretch of the Argentinian world champion goalkeeper, who reached the ball, but not quite.
That's where Bruno Fernandes appeared to make it 1-0.
Bruno Fernandes celebrates his goal with Jadon Sancho.
Photo: AFP
It was minute 38. But before United deserved to take advantage.
There Rashford had already aimed twice before: one went astray and
the other culminated in a sensational save by Martínez, in the style of the savior of Qatar 2022.
They also had chances Casemiro, who crashed a shot off the crossbar, and Sabitzer who sent the stands a more than obvious opportunity for the goal.
He also claimed two penalties.
So when he made it 1-0, it came as no surprise to anyone at Old Trafford.
Not even for Emery, whose team was outclassed in the first half.
It was another Aston Villa team in the plugin.
More ambitious, more expressive, less contemplative, perhaps because United, also with their income on the scoreboard, gave him more space to knock him down on the counterattack, but, above all, because he had no choice but to believe in qualifying for the Champions League
It will not be possible.
It does not seem.
The fault lay with Lindelof's head, which placated all expectations of reaching fourth place in the table.
Manchester.
Agencies.
look too
Julián Álvarez scored a great goal and gave Manchester City the victory and the temporary lead in the Premier League
Lautaro Martínez appeared at the right time for Inter and left the title for Napoli in Italy
