Manchester United’s Defensive Players Bail the Team Out Again

Manchester United earned a thrilling 5-4 win over Lyon in the second leg of the Europa League quarterfinal on Thursday, April 17.

It was an incredible victory for the Red Devils, given the fact that they were trailing 2-4 by the 19th minute of extra-time and still managed to snatch a win.

United are 14th in the Premier League table at the moment and therefore, only winning the Europa League can ensure European football for them next season.

It is not going to be an easy task, but reaching the last four is an achievement surely.

Defensive Players Won the Match for Manchester United

Of Manchester United’s five different goal-scorers on Thursday, four were defensive players – Manuel Ugarte, Diogo Dalot, Kobbie Mainoo and Harry Maguire.

United’s defenders and defensive midfielders regularly made forays into the opposition penalty box and the team reaped its rewards.

Maguire scored the match-winner and now has four goals this season, which is half the tally of Rasmus Hojlund, the centre-forward and three less than that of Joshua Zirkzee, another attacking player.

That in itself is not a good advertisement of United’s attack this season.

Casemiro, who is clearly past his prime as a player, is yet another defensive player, who has shown the desire to go forward to help in the team’s attacks.

Patrick Dorgu, the left wing-back who was signed in January, has also been going into overlaps regularly.

And then, there is Bruno Fernandes, who converted a penalty to score his 17th goal of the season. Fernandes is far and away United’s most consistent player and keeps proving his worth to the team almost every match.

However, it is the attacking impetus shown by United’s defensive players that took them past Lyon on the day.

Ruben Amorim will continue to rely a lot on those players in the upcoming matches as well.

Spurs Stand in United’s Way

Manchester United will play against Athletic Club in the semifinal of Europa League.

Tottenham Hotspur have also qualified for the last four and might fight for the title with the Red Devils in the final.

However, Amorim will not want to get ahead of himself and put his focus on the semifinals only.

His team will face Wolves, Bournemouth and Brentford in their next three Premier League matches and United will not want any untoward result in those matches either.

It remains to be seen if they can end the season on a high by winning the Europa League.