Jose Mourinho faced the current Champions at the end of a week where he bemoaned football's 'Einsteins' and had to deal once and for all with the problem of Wayne Rooney.
Rooney was banished to the bench, and United were restored to something resembling their best.
The dropping of Wayne Rooney means the rise of Juan Mata?
A picture surfaced before the game of the dropped United captain taking out a bag of balls as the starting eleven buzzed around him. It was a fitting snapshot of the beleaguered England’s captain’s current status.
PHOTO OF THE DAY...
Wayne Rooney DROPPED, forlornly putting the balls out for Manchester United's starters... pic.twitter.com/GqKr8O63mf
— Eurosport UK (@Eurosport_UK) September 24, 2016
United were far from fluid in the opening twenty minutes but after Chris Smalling powered home a header from a corner, a bit of swagger returned. Juan Mata was popping up here and there, Paul Pogba was starting to assert himself and crucially; United looked quicker without Rooney.
Every role Rooney has tried in the last year (No. 9, No. 10, No. 6, No. 8) has been done better by someone else in just 45 mins without him.
— Daniel Storey (@danielstorey85) September 24, 2016
A quick corner from Blind found Mata before half-time and the Spaniard whipped a ball across the box for Marcus Rashford to score. It was indicative of the type of quick thinking the Spain international offered United.
Mata has been a curious case at United, literally helicoptered in by David Moyes back in 2013, he’s been searching for a place in the United eleven since. The irony won’t be lost on the part-time blogger if it’s Jose Mourinho who finally restores him to his beloved number 10 role.
Juan Mata's playing like a proper number 10. In-between the lines, deft touches linking full-backs into the attack. Has been marvellous.
— Liam Canning (@LiamPaulCanning) September 24, 2016
Paul Pogba returns to form
The common refrain about Paul Pogba from various tactical experts is that he cannot play in a midfield two. Which is nonsense.
Pogba has every attribute needed to flourish in a midfield two. He is not an Andrea Pirlo type controller but his great strength is he can do almost every task needed of a midfielder to a high level.
Paul Pogba's vs. Leicester: #MUNLEI
100% aerial duels won
87% pass accuracy
3 clearances
2 shots
1 goal
1 dab pic.twitter.com/7reTHJXyrF— Twt_ManUtd (@twt_manunited) September 24, 2016
Here, after a tentative start, he put on his finest display yet for United. Whether it was popping little passes or making some surging runs, he looked the prototype powerhouse midfielder Jose Mourinho loves.
No Fellaini means a more fluid United
While the dropping of Wayne Rooney was main story before the game, Jose Mourinho’s decision to pair Ander Herrera with Paul Pogba was arguably a bigger factor in the upturn in United’s performance.
Fellaini has as many detractors as fans, he undoubtedly has strengths but he has one glaring weakness and that is his slowness in possession. With him out of the side, United were rapid in possession and their reliance on direct balls was seriously lessened
Leicester find their level
It took an enormous effort and a farcical set of events to crown Leicester champions last season. While Sky Sports were busy selling the fairy-tale, the truth was, it was a damning indictment on the standard of last season’s Premier League that such an ordinary side romped to the title.
Same applies. Of course. That's what clubs like Leicester have to do. Last season was always going to be a one-off! https://t.co/m82xosQobu
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) September 24, 2016
Leicester have had their pants pulled down at both Anfield and Old Trafford now and shipped another 4 to Chelsea midweek. Their second half performance was admirable here but a return to the safe confines of mid-table surely awaits.
Untidy second half still leaves cause for concern for Mourinho
It may seem churlish to complain after Jose Mourinho watched his side hit Leicester for four in the first half but the sometime-Special One won’t have enjoyed what he saw in the second half as his side sat off Leicester and veered dangerously close to sloppy at times.
It was a reminder that this first half performance, while full of promise must also be analysed with Leicester’s catastrophic defending in mind.
