Manchester United thrashed Premier League champions Leicester City as boss Jose Mourinho dropped captain Wayne Rooney from his starting line-up.
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Here is what I feel we learned in the 4-1 victory over the reigning Premier League champions.
Calls for Wayne Rooney to be dropped were answered, and Mata may well keep him on the bench after Saturday’s display. You score four goals and your striker doesn’t score a goal and I think Ibra played phenomenal.
Substitute Demarai Gray’s exceptional effort reduced the deficit and Leicester threatened another, but United held firm to avoid a third straight league defeat in comprehensive fashion.
United had lost three games in a row prior to their EFL Cup win over Northampton in midweek so this was a much-needed improvement. And I only can start with XI.
The opener appeared to remove the shackles as the home side grew in confidence and attacked with panache.
Mourinho, who has been critical of the “Einsteins” in the press, said: “If I don’t play (Marcus) Rashford you ask me why, if I don’t play (Jesse) Lingard you ask me why, and you prefer always to ask why somebody is not playing”.
Rashford sliced high and wide when Ibrahimovic sent him clean through on goal, before the big Swede spun and volleyed over the crossbar after Pogba’s glorious chip, as United began to play with some long-awaited flair.
Rooney came on in the 83rd minute as United comfortably saw out the game at Old Trafford.
And despite quality performances coming all over the pitch for United, it was one man in particular that stood out.
Despite closing in on Sir Bobby Charlton’s all-time goals record for United, he hadn’t scored since the opening weekend against Bournemouth.
“I think today was about the result, the performance, the security for the fans”.
“We put pressure on, we pressed very well, we tried to create chances but suddenly we switched off”.
Leicester began the game the stronger side but United soon took over, and Chris Smalling, captain on the day, powered home a corner in the 22nd minute.
He scored with a header – one of three goals set up from Daley Blind corners – and broke forward from the centre of midfield to dominate.
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With the game as good as up by the midway point, Claudio Ranieri – who had not lost any of his most recent four games against Mourinho – took off his two star men as Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez made way.
