So with United missing so many opportunities throughout the season for a guaranteed top four finish, it was left to the final game of the season. Manchester United needed to either win or draw against the Foxes to guarantee Champions League qualification. It was do-or-die time. Could United deliver under pressure? Blowing the chance to beat West Ham was concerning. Leicester on the other hand had much more attacking talent than the Hammers but had won just one of their thirteen Premier League home games against Manchester United. At the start of United’s unbeaten run – 14 games now in this campaign – the Reds were actually 14 points behind Leicester. Their victory at the King Power Stadium shows a big physical effort for the players with 10 games in five weeks.
In the end it was thanks to two errors by City’s defense that allowed United to end up as two –nil winners. The first when Greenwood’s tackle then allowed the ball to run to Fernandes who put Martial through, the latter being brought down in the box. Penalty. United’s spot-kick was the 14th we’ve been awarded in the Premier League in the 2019/20 season – the most any side has won in one campaign in the history of the Division. Bruno stepped up and it was United one-up. Since Bruno Fernandes made his United debut on 1 February, the Reds have won more Premier League points (32) than any other team. Bruno’s penalty was his 10th goal of the season, meaning he joins Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford (22 goals each) and Mason Greenwood (17 goals) on double figures for the campaign.
The second goal was a mistake by Kasper Schmeichel, and Jesse Lingard scored his first Premier League goal for Manchester United since December 2018.
The clean sheet is attributed to United’s defense, led by skipper Harry Maguire who became the first outfield player since Gary Pallister in 1994-95 to start every game in a Premier League campaign for United. It also means that David De Gea has now surpassed Peter Schmeichel as the United keeper with the most clean sheets in the Premier League (113).
My Man of the Match Award goes to young Brandon Williams. He is not only playing like a seasoned veteran and is being sought by his teammates to move forward, but is also brave and does not shirk from a challenge, showing controlled aggression in defence. He has filled the role of Luke Shaw well in the biggest game of the teenager’s career.
So Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side have finished third in the Premier League, a position we did not really think possible before the Covid-19 league postponement.
Article contributed by Contributor Kenneth. Comments are appreciated on our Facebook page.