United in control
Manchester United will host Granada in the second leg of their Europa League tie next week knowing that they should have done enough in the first leg to see them safely through to the semi finals.
We grafted for that one 💪
Same mentality in the second leg, boys!
🔴 #MUFC
🏆 #UEL pic.twitter.com/P7nuukY9gd— Manchester United (@ManUtd) April 8, 2021
Goals from Marcus Rashford and a late penalty from Bruno Fernandes have put the Red Devils in a great position, even though three of their players picked up yellow cards and will miss the second leg.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men took the lead in the 31st minute when Marcus Rashford latched onto to Victor Lindelof’s superb pass over the top, controlled it with one touch and calmly finished. It was a lovely goal, even though TV missed it in real time.
Blink and you’ll miss Man Utd’s opening goal vs Granada…
The Spanish TV director certainly did 😂
Marcus Rashford brings up 20 goals for the season 🎯#UEL pic.twitter.com/AsyaaMFxrW
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) April 8, 2021
It also came from United’s first shot of the game and Rashford’s 20th goal of the season.
20 – Marcus Rashford is the fourth Premier League player to reach 20 goals in all competitions this season after Harry Kane (29), Mo Salah (27) and Bruno Fernandes (23). Lion. #UEL pic.twitter.com/tm6yqGKxfF
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 8, 2021
8 – Marcus Rashford is the first English player to score eight goals for @ManUtd in European competition in a single season (excluding qualifiers) since Bobby Charlton in 1964-65. Footsteps. #UEL pic.twitter.com/pskfaBm3OI
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 8, 2021
Grenada did hit the post in the 41st minute, and both Scott McTominay and Luke Shaw picked up bookings in the first half meaning they will miss the second leg next week. Harry Maguire also picked up a yellow card, meaning that he too will miss the second leg in Manchester.
They did force David De Gea into some routine saves, but United put the game, and possibly the tie, to bed when they were awarded a penalty which Bruno Fernandes just about forced home.
19/20 – Bruno Fernandes has scored 19 of his 20 penalties taken for Manchester United in all competitions. Reliable. #UEL pic.twitter.com/UjtviUXVK7
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 8, 2021
Not Perfect
Speaking to BT Sport after the game, Solskjaer said;
“It was not a perfect night. We got three yellow cards and three suspensions. 2-0 is a very good result. We know how difficult it is to come to Spain. We’ve got to play well to get a result.
“They (Rashford and Fernandes) have been exceptional, so important for us. It was a very good run by Rashford, takes the ball fantastically. Bruno is so confident on penalties even though the keeper almost saved it.”
“Same as always (attitude for next week). We want to win every game. It’s still a young team, a learning team. We have to improve all the time. Football catches you so quickly if you rest. We can’t have any other approach.”