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Wolves and Manchester United rescued deadline day with an utterly remarkable game as Marcus Rashford learns from Jadon Sancho to assist (for now) save Erik ten Hag…
“We didn’t pick him on Sunday. He had to take responsibility. We transfer on. Case closed.”
The pre-match phrases there of a bullish Ten Hag when explaining why he opted to start Rashford against Wolves after his drunken escapade in Belfast last week.
A man of principles, Ten Hag comes across as a fairly demanding manager nevertheless the minimum he asks of his Man Utd players is that they respect him and “take responsibility” after they enact infamous.
His players have now not always completed as they had been told *cough* Jadon Sancho *cough* nevertheless the immediate return of Rashford on Thursday night proves that the Dutchman can be forgiving when he is on the same page as the individual occupying the Customary Trafford naughty step.
Sancho refused to apologise to Ten Hag following their extremely publicised fallout earlier this season and as a end result, he was unceremoniously offloaded at the primary alternative at the start of the winter transfer window.
The same fate may have awaited Rashford had he chosen to be factual as stubborn as his fellow England international. However instead, the below-fire attacker has proven to his damaged-down team-mate that apologising prices nothing and you can income from admitting you’ve completed infamous.
Sancho is absolute self belief pleased as punch that he is back at Borussia Dortmund, nevertheless with a permanent return probably now not, his long-term future is looking fairly uncertain and it is miles likely depending on whether “interim manager” Ten Hag is deemed lawful ample to lead Man Utd into the Sir Jim Ratcliffe era.
Rashford’s future appears to be like extra certain, though. His apparent admission of guilt has enabled him to make an immediate return to the fold so he can moral his wrongs on the pitch.
Following the Belfast saga, Gary Neville was now not certain whether Rashford calm “provides a f***”. However on the evidence of his performance against Wolves, he certainly does.
The forward was certainly one of many major beneficiaries of Ten Hag’s arrival last season as he was among the leading performers in the Premier League. Whereas his create this season has declined significantly, his display against Wolves was distinguished extra in line with what we received frail to seeing from him during the Dutchman’s debut campaign in charge.
Aware that he had a point to approve, Rashford – along with Luke Shaw on the left flank – caused Wolves all forms of problems after he made a dream start with a clinical finish for United’s early opener.
Playing against a Wolves facet who have already beaten Manchester Metropolis, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea this season, this game was anticipated to provide a stern take a look at of United’s resolve after last week’s lucky escape in the FA Cup against Newport County.
However after being fortunate to beat Wolves at Customary Trafford in the reverse fixture, United fared larger against the same opponents this time around as Rashford and Shaw combined to launch up the hosts before Rasmus Hojlund doubled their lead before the break.
United – who had two goals ruled out for offside before half-time – missed chances to lengthen their lead additional before Wolves had been talented a way back into the game as they had been awarded a soft penalty after Casemiro was adjudged to have folded Pedro Neto.
Pablo Sarabia made no mistake along with his plight-kick and many would have assumed this goal with 20 minutes to coast would have preceded a very in-character Man Utd collapse to give up a point or three.
It will have been hilarious had United managed to balls this game up regardless of putting in certainly one of their larger performances of the season. And even after great sub Scott McTominay scored United’s third, this was on the cards as Wolves worked their late magic as soon as again.
Feeling that football fans had been deserving of a sprinkling of peak Barclays action to make up for a dire transfer window, Wolves and Man Utd showed fans what a game would stare like if it was a deal sheet.
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Max Kilman received Wolves’ 2d before Pedro Neto introduced the hosts stage in the 96th minute. However as soon as United lifted their head from their hands, Kobbie bloody Mainoo channelled his inner Kevin De Bruyne to curl a remarkable winner into the bottom nook to claim all three points for his facet. Brilliant, nevertheless bonkers all the same.
Boosted by the returns of Casemiro, Luke Shaw and Andre Onana, Ten Hag indicated before the game that his “solid” starting XI was the very most interesting Man Utd have looked from kick-off this season as their injury points are *finally* easing.
And this may be welcomed by Ten Hag, who has been below unrelenting stress for a lot of this season with disgruntlement growing ahead of the completion of Ratcliffe’s takeover.
It is miles complicated now not to really feel that Ten Hag’s days as Man Utd manager are numbered. However with stress on their manager mounting, the players stood up when he wished them to kind a performance (and a victory) that will aquire him a few extra weeks in the fresh seat. The place have we viewed that before?
Appropriate as United’s stars delivered against Wolves, they are equally as capable of letting Ten Hag down and – even following tonight’s large high – it may now not be a shock if that happens against West Ham this weekend.
However for a couple of days at least, Rashford, Mainoo and Ten Hag deserve their plant life after a rare clear night for Manchester United in their torrid season.
