Man Utd Player Ratings: Leicester City Match - A Mixed Bag at the King Power
Manchester United secured a crucial 3-0 victory over Leicester City at the King Power Stadium, but the performance was far from convincing. While the Red Devils ultimately secured the three points, the match highlighted some areas of concern within the squad. Let's dive into the individual performances of the players:
Goalkeeper
David de Gea (7/10): The Spanish shot-stopper was a steady presence in goal, making a couple of important saves, including a crucial stop from a Jamie Vardy effort. De Gea's distribution was also accurate, helping to initiate attacks from the back.
Defenders
Diogo Dalot (7/10): The Portuguese full-back provided a constant threat down the right flank, delivering dangerous crosses and making overlapping runs. Dalot also defended resolutely, displaying good positioning and tackling.
Raphael Varane (7/10): The French center-back was his usual dominant self, winning aerial battles and making crucial interceptions. Varane's experience and calmness were vital in keeping Leicester's attack at bay.
Lisandro Martínez (6/10): Martínez had a few shaky moments, particularly in the first half, and was occasionally caught out of position. However, he improved as the game progressed, winning his fair share of tackles and aerial duels.
Luke Shaw (6/10): Shaw was solid defensively but didn't offer much going forward. He was outpaced by Leicester's wingers at times, but ultimately performed his defensive duties competently.
Midfielders
Christian Eriksen (8/10): The Danish midfielder controlled the tempo of the game, dictating play with his intelligent passing and movement. Eriksen's ability to find space and deliver accurate passes was key to United's attacking threat.
Casemiro (8/10): The Brazilian anchorman was his usual dominant self, breaking up Leicester's attacks with ease and winning the midfield battle. Casemiro's tackles, interceptions, and physicality were crucial in providing a solid platform for his teammates.
Bruno Fernandes (7/10): Fernandes was a constant threat going forward, creating chances and looking to find the back of the net. His creativity and vision were evident, and he was instrumental in United's first goal.
Attackers
Marcus Rashford (9/10): The English forward was in blistering form, scoring two goals and providing an assist. Rashford's pace, dribbling skills, and clinical finishing were on full display.
Antony (7/10): Antony was a constant menace to the Leicester defense with his direct running and dangerous crosses. He was instrumental in setting up Rashford for the first goal and provided a vital outlet for United's attack.
Alejandro Garnacho (6/10): The young Argentine attacker was a handful for Leicester's defense but lacked the final product in the final third. He showed glimpses of his potential but needs to be more clinical in front of goal.
Substitutes
Scott McTominay (N/A): Came on late in the game to help see out the victory.
Wout Weghorst (N/A): Introduced late to provide more attacking firepower.
Fred (N/A): Came on to help control the midfield in the closing stages.
Overall: While the 3-0 victory was welcome, Man United displayed a lack of fluency and cohesion at times. The team relied heavily on individual brilliance, particularly from Rashford, to secure the win.
Key Takeaway: While the result is positive, Erik ten Hag will need to address the team's inconsistency and lack of fluidity in future matches if they are to achieve their goals this season.