On a night of rare positives at Old Trafford – Manchester United defeating Newcastle 3-2 in one of their most fluid, effective performances in recent memory – almost everything Erik ten Hag touched turned to gold.
Amad Diallo, better late than never, was chosen ahead of Antony on the right wing and equalled the £82 million Brazilian’s tally of goals and assists for the entire Premier League campaign in the space of just 26 minutes either side of half-time.
Ten Hag’s decision to hand Sofyan Amrabat a rare start worked wonders too. The Moroccan, for all his weaknesses, brings the kind of calm control to proceedings a usually ramshackle Manchester United side often lack.
His heroic block to deny a goalbound Alexander Isak effort shortly before Amad opened his top-flight account, meanwhile, was reminiscent of Amrabat’s iconic challenge on Kylian Mbappe at the Qatar World Cup.
With that, Amad and Amrabat making a big difference not only against Newcastle but against Arsenal too, has Ten Hag stumbled across his gameplan for the upcoming FA Cup final re-match with Manchester City?
Manchester United beat Newcastle in much-improved display
Rasmus Hojlund‘s sparkling cameo, rested by Ten Hag and introduced late on with the score 2-1, only served to justify another of the Dutchman’s calls.
Hojlund took his tally to a very respectable 15 as he fired past ex-United loanee Martin Dubravka with his weaker right foot mere moments after stepping off the bench.
“It was great,” legendary Red Devils skipper Roy Keane told Sky Sports of Hojlund’s immediate impact (15 May, 10pm). “He came on, he was fresh, the game was stretched and he felt he might get an opportunity.
“When you’re in a barren run and you’re trying to win the trust of the fans and the manager, (performances like this are important).”
This was only Hojlund’s second goal in 11 games. The £64 million signing, certainly more of a hit than a miss despite a rather mixed campaign, may just be finding his stride again ahead of Man United’s last chance to end a largely dreadful season with some silverware.
Wayne Rooney draws Solskjaer comparison
“(Hojlund) showed his power, showed his strength. It will be a huge lift for him. Absolutely huge,” United’s all-time record goalscorer Wayne Rooney adds, hailing the ‘outstanding’ Bruno Fernandes for his role in the build-up to last night’s clincher.
For Rooney, there were shades of another Old Trafford icon in the way Hojlund used the nearby Newcastle defender as a shield to fire past an unsighted Dubravka.
“There’s a skill to shooting through keepers legs,” Rooney adds. “Ole Gunnar Solskjaer used to do that and I think (Hojlund) did that intentionally. So it’s a great finish
“I’m really pleased for him that he got his goal tonight.”
As Ten Hag was keen to point out in a rousing post-match speech – was this his final outing at Old Trafford? – Man United still have the bread and butter of final day trip to Brighton to come before another trip to Wembley.