Manchester United made a stunning comeback to defeat Aston Villa 3-2 in their first match since Sir Jim Ratcliffe was announced as a minority owner of the club. Boxing Day goals from John McGinn and Leandro Dendoncker put an early dampener on the Brit’s arrival, before a brace from Alejandro Garnacho ended their four-match goal drought and then Rasmus Hojlund scored his first Premier League goal to spark jubilant scenes inside Old Trafford and rescue all three points. Ratcliffe is expected to attend a game in the new year, but his right-hand man Sir Dave Brailsford was inside the ground to run the rule over the current team. Here, Express Sport takes a look at who made the desired impression on Ratcliffe and who has caused a worrying issue.
Alejandro Garnacho
Garnacho was moved to the right flank as a result of Rashford’s return, but turned in one of his most impressive performances of the season. Aside from the two goals, which were expertly taken, he was a constant threat to Lucas Digne and then Alex Moreno, potentially proving that he can be the answer to a long-term issue.
Antony and especially Jadon Sancho have failed to make that right-wing spot their own and now Garnacho has shown them exactly what is required to win over the United faithful. The young Argentine played on the front foot, was willing to take his man on and provide chances for Hojlund and Rashford, in what was a marked improvement going forward from United thanks to Garnacho.
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Marcus Rashford
Marcus Rashford has been left out of the United team in recent weeks due to a mixture of form and illness, but returned to the starting lineup on the left flank for the visit of Villa. The England star could not provide the goalscoring boost that has sorely been missing, and especially was unimpressed with his team-mates to begin the game.
He felt let down by Hojlund’s inability to control his pass into the striker that brought a promising attack to a close, before then throwing his hands up in frustration that a ball did not get played over the top when Rashford then made a threatening run in behind the Villa defence.
Rashford’s willingness to run beyond Villa’s high line was a notable improvement and that directly resulted in Garnacho’s goal, but that did come after Amazon Prime commentator Ally McCoist dug Rashford out for his attitude towards his team-mates, stating his discomfort at the way he was treating them and Hojlund in particular, a worrying issue for Erik ten Hag and United that was also on show from another key player.
Bruno Fernandes
As United’s captain, Bruno Fernandes is expected to lead by example but few will have been impressed with his attitude. Hojlund is a young striker who is learning his trade at the highest level, but after the Dane failed to make the run that Fernandes desired, instead of explaining where Hojlund should have been he lamented the 20-year-old publicly.
He was appealing to the referee before McGinn’s free-kick found the back of the net and then spurned one of United’s best chances of the first half as despite improved performances, his and Rashford’s outburst will not be well-received by the new hierarchy.
Fernandes’ leadership has already been questioned by the likes of Roy Keane and Gary Neville and this continued attitude will not put him in Ratcliffe’s good books, especially after receiving what has become a routine yellow card for exploding with frustration at the referee.
