Ole Gunnar Solskjaer makes promising start in restoring Manchester United's core values as players begin to revel in expressing themselves on the pitch
* Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is gradually restoring Manchester United's key beliefs
* His side beat Huddersfield 3-1 at Old Trafford to continue unbeaten start as boss
* A rejuvenated Paul Pogba scored twice after Nemanja Matic had tapped home
* Team look more attacking and Angel Gomes' late cameo showed faith in youth
Consider this for a moment. It took Jose Mourinho 45 days to collect his last six points as manager of Manchester United. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has done it in five.
Eight goals have been scored and two conceded. A top-four place is back in United’s sights.
But figures alone cannot demonstrate the transformation that has taken place almost overnight on the caretaker’s watch.
Marcus Rashford and Paul Pogba have been given more freedom to express themselves
Here, in Solskjaer’s first home game, Old Trafford delighted in the new lease of life he has given his players; the feelgood factor of watching United on the front foot again.
The 45-year-old returned to the old place to a hero’s welcome and the banner ‘20LEGEND’ — 20 being his old shirt number, with the OLE in red — back on display in the corner of the North Stand, acknowledging the acclaim from all four sides of the ground.
He left the stage two hours to another ovation after building on his opening win at Cardiff with another deserved, if less convincing, victory over Huddersfield.
‘We have to remind people what Manchester United is all about,’ Solskjaer wrote in the match programme. ‘We have to show everybody who we really are.
‘This is a club built on entertainment and excitement, on giving young players the opportunity to express themselves.’ One of the great anomalies of the Mourinho era was United’s willingness to hand the reins to a coach whose c.v. - decorated though it was - could not have been less in keeping with those core values.
Former Man United pair Mike Phelan and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer have so far been successful
His last game in charge here was a 4-1 win over Fulham but that was an exception. We had long come to expect a very different kind of football, and result, from his United team.
At first, the decision to bring in Solskjaer and Mike Phelan appeared fanciful. Sentimental even. But at least United know they have people at the helm now who will be true to the traditions of the club.
The hope is that players, particularly the younger ones, will respond positively to be given greater freedom and a licence to attack.
Never was that more apparent than in the 40th minute when Marcus Rashford faced Mathias Jorgensen on the left touchline with the ball at his feet.
In the blink of an eye, United’s young No 10 nutmegged his opponent and burst clear before swinging a cross to the far post.
Academy graduate Angel Gomes came on for Manchester United as they turned to youth
It hardly seemed to matter that Diogo Dalot turned the ball wide with a first-time attempt. Old Trafford was still roaring its appreciation of Rashford’s audacity and skill.
All over the pitch, others were following suit, free of the fear of making a mistake. At one point Nemanja Matic, scorer of the opening goal, found himself as the last man but felt confident enough to trick his opponent with a lovely drag-back before breaking upfield.
It won’t always work out as well as this. ‘I am under no illusions as to the scale of the job ahead, ‘ Solskjaer added in his notes. ‘We all have a lot of work to do to get this club back towards where it should be.’
Indeed, Huddersfield should have been ahead when Terence Kongolo fired over. Philip Billing, Elias Kachunga and Laurent Depoitre - who forced a wonder save from David de Gea - also went close when United were only one up and looking decidedly shaky.
Full-back Diogo Dalot was replaced in the second half but will have another chance to impress
Summer signings Fred and Dalot were replaced in a double substitution just eight minutes after half-time that demonstrated Solskjaer is not afraid to take decisive action.
His third replacement, 18-year-old Angel Gomes, was only introduced after Paul Pogba’s two goals had secured victory, and the decision drew warm appreciation from home fans who recognised the significance of it.
The outcome was in some doubt until then, but wasn’t that half the fun of watching the United of old? The possibility that a commitment to attacking football could blow up in their faces?
Solskjaer knows the deal. He knows what can happen when you play this kind of game, and he is happy to take the risk.
Two matches in and no-one is complaining.
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sebenarnya belum teruji karena 2 lawan awal United 'cuma' Cardiff & Huddersfield, kita lihat awal Januari nanti pas ketemu Spurs yg lagi menggila