Manchester United made their way to Leicester City with the intention of concluding their pre-international break fixtures on a high note.
Despite speculation regarding his availability, Andre Onana was in goal. The defensive trio consisted of Matthijs de Ligt, Victor Lindelof, and Ayden Heaven.
Noussair Mazraoui transitioned to the right wing-back position, while Diogo Dalot stepped in to fill the gap left by Patrick Dorgu’s suspension for the final match.
Manuel Ugarte returned from injury to join Bruno Fernandes, who had scored a hat-trick on Thursday, in the midfield.
Alejandro Garnacho and Christian Eriksen were positioned just behind Rasmus Hojlund in the attacking setup.
Here are four insights gained from the match.
Rasmus Hojlund and Alejandro Garnacho end their droughts
At 22 years of age, Hojlund had endured an astonishing stretch of 21 matches without scoring since his last goal in December during the Europa League. His most recent goal in the Premier League occurred on December 7 at Old Trafford against Nottingham Forest.
The Denmark international’s performance had been notably subpar during this period; however, he showed significant improvement on Thursday night in the Europa League, where he earned a penalty and assisted Dalot.
After 28 minutes, a brilliant pass from Fernandes enabled Hojlund to maneuver behind the defense and take a shot across the goal, finally ending his frustrating goal drought.
Alejandro Garnacho had experienced an even longer goal-less streak, having not scored since late November against Bodo/Glimt. While he has provided several assists recently, all Manchester United supporters will be hoping that his goal in the second half, similar to Hojlund’s, will instill confidence in both young forwards as they approach the final two months of the season.
Ayden Heaven looks an absolute bargain
The 18-year-old made his debut in the Premier League after playing a full 90 minutes against Real Sociedad earlier in the week.
The young English talent delivered an impressive performance, continuing his form during the first half at the King Power Stadium.
He exhibited poise and confidence on the ball, even venturing into midfield on several occasions.
The defender executed a crucial last-ditch tackle to thwart the home team and followed it up with a remarkable goal-saving block.
He is already fostering a strong connection with the United supporters, as he gestured to the traveling fans after skillfully shielding the ball out of play.
While fans may need to exercise patience with this young defender, he certainly appears capable of forming a formidable partnership with fellow prospect Leny Yoro at the core of the United defense for years to come.
United’s injury curse continues
The Red Devils have faced significant setbacks this season with the long-term injuries of Lisandro Martinez, Amad Diallo, and Kobbie Mainoo. Additionally, they are contending with the more immediate defensive absences of Harry Maguire and Leny Yoro.
A major blow occurred early in the second half when the exceptional Heaven was forced to leave the field on a stretcher after an awkward fall while contesting a Leicester attacker.
Supporters of United will be hoping that the injury is not as severe as it appears; however, many are likely to be apprehensive and feel disheartened for the young player, who has shown remarkable promise since his arrival in January.
Another Carrington debutant
Academy player Harry Amass has finally made his much-anticipated debut for the senior team during the second half of the match.
The young talent showcased his abilities during the pre-season tour in the summer; however, he had yet to feature for the first team despite United’s challenges at the left-back position.
Given his offensive skills, the former Watford player is expected to gain more playing time in Ruben Amorim’s 3-4-3 formation as a left wing-back.
He joins Toby Collyer and Chido Obi in making their senior debuts this season, and he is unlikely to be the last, considering the impressive array of emerging talents poised to make their mark from United’s renowned academy.
Leave a Reply