Five reasons for United fans to be cheerful.
Manchester United’s season finally began in earnest this afternoon, with Louis van Gaal’s charges storming to a 4-0 victory over an abject Queens Park Rangers side in front of an Old Trafford crowd that was teeming with optimism and enthusiasm as the club’s poor start to the season finally looks to be turning around.
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United fans are sure to have enjoyed watching their side eviscerate Harry Redknapp’s men, with these five huge positives having emerged for the Red Devils:
Angel di Maria gave them pace and penetration
After a quiet debut against Burnley a couple of weeks ago, British record signing Angel di Maria really showed what he was about during the 4-0 victory, rampaging through a static QPR defence and, crucially, interjecting some real pace into United’s previously sluggish side. Providing a goal and assist, di Maria was a constant threat and looks like he may well prove to be worth the eye-watering outlay.
Herrera and Blind made the central midfield unrecognisable
The lack of quality in central midfield United had been evident before the QPR match, but debutant Daley Blind and Ander Herrera, making only his second appearance of the season, changed all of that and helped United to control the central area, albeit against a disorganised and ramshackle QPR outfit. Blind sat deep, covered space intelligently and helped to recycle possession whilst Herrera was a more dynamic presence, closing down off the ball and breaking forward when his side had it, slamming home the second goal from the edge of the box.
Juan Mata looked like a much improved player
Largely criticised for his lack of pace and dynamism during the early stages of this season, Juan Mata looked more like the player who won successive player of the year awards with Chelsea once he had been surrounded by pace and movement. Ghosting into the box to open the scoring, Mata found space at ease against a side who struggled to pick up his movement, with his lack of pace not being as evident with the likes of di Maria, Herrera and Rojo operating around him.
The defence seemed more like a unit
With United having switched away from the three man defence, a new-look back four of Rafael, Evans, Blackett and Rojo seemed much more comfortable with the system that they were playing and far less exposed than they had done in previous games. Rangers’ one real chance came from a rush of blood to the head by goalkeeper David de Gea, with the defence otherwise looking completely in control, even with the full backs bursting into attack almost at will.
The whole atmosphere had lifted
Almost from the moment that the likes of Falcao, Blind and di Maria stepped onto the pitch to warm up at Old Trafford for the first time, the atmosphere in the stands at Old Trafford was full of positivity and anticipation, with the feeling being that the season really starts here for United. Whilst QPR are clearly a poor side and bigger challenges lie ahead, the difference from Turf Moor two weeks ago could not have been more pronounced.