Manchester United vs Newcastle Match Analysis
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| Source: Metro |
Manchester United XI: David De Gea, Ashley Young (c), Chris Smalling, Eric Bailly, Luke Shaw, Paul Pogba, Nemanja Matic, Scott McTominay, Anthony Martial, Romelu Lukaku, Marcus Rashford
Newcastle XI: Martin Dubravka, DeAndre Yedlin, Jamaal Lascelles, Federico Fernandez, Javi Manquillo, Matt Ritchie, Jonjo Shelvey, Mohamed Diame, Robert Kenedy, Ayoze Perez, Yoshinori Muto
After the lows of the last few weeks the game got off to the worse possible start with United 2 down to Newcastle in the first 10 mins. Both goals came due to absolutely abysmal defending from United. After the 2-0 it looked to all the world like United would limp to yet another uninspiring defeat, which would have almost certainly seen the end of Jose Mourinho’s reign as manager of Manchester United.
However, soon after the second goal went in for Newcastle, United made a change and switched tactics. This didn’t do anything for the rest of the first half, leading to more changes at first time. Where bizarrely but successfully, Mourinho played a back three of Smalling, Matic and Pogba. This proved to be a stroke of genius by Mourinho as United were able to dominate the game and keep Newcastle pushed back in their own half.
It took a while for United to break down the solid Newcastle defence and a bit of magic by Juan Mata to do so with an exquisite freekick that started the comeback for United. With United thoroughly dominating the game the chances kept coming, and not long later United were level. It was the superb link up play by Martial and Pogba that set up Martial for the leveller in fantastic style.
The comeback was complete in the 90th minute when substitute and hero Alexis Sanchez headed home his most important United goal to date and the one which would be the eventual winner of this thrilling game of football.
A special mention needs to go to two players who changed the game in United’s favour in the second half; Martial and Pogba. Pogba playing his centre back role enabled him to get the ball more and more and pick his pass. It also allowed him to drive forward with the ball creating chance after chance, with him playing a big role in 2 of the 3 United goals. Additionally, Martial caused chaos for the Newcastle defence in the second half and his pace and skill was one of the main reasons United were able to comeback from such a bleak position. Similarly to Pogba, Martial also had a hand in 2 of the 3 goals that United scored, with one being his goal to level the game.
However, soon after the second goal went in for Newcastle, United made a change and switched tactics. This didn’t do anything for the rest of the first half, leading to more changes at first time. Where bizarrely but successfully, Mourinho played a back three of Smalling, Matic and Pogba. This proved to be a stroke of genius by Mourinho as United were able to dominate the game and keep Newcastle pushed back in their own half.
It took a while for United to break down the solid Newcastle defence and a bit of magic by Juan Mata to do so with an exquisite freekick that started the comeback for United. With United thoroughly dominating the game the chances kept coming, and not long later United were level. It was the superb link up play by Martial and Pogba that set up Martial for the leveller in fantastic style.
The comeback was complete in the 90th minute when substitute and hero Alexis Sanchez headed home his most important United goal to date and the one which would be the eventual winner of this thrilling game of football.
A special mention needs to go to two players who changed the game in United’s favour in the second half; Martial and Pogba. Pogba playing his centre back role enabled him to get the ball more and more and pick his pass. It also allowed him to drive forward with the ball creating chance after chance, with him playing a big role in 2 of the 3 United goals. Additionally, Martial caused chaos for the Newcastle defence in the second half and his pace and skill was one of the main reasons United were able to comeback from such a bleak position. Similarly to Pogba, Martial also had a hand in 2 of the 3 goals that United scored, with one being his goal to level the game.
