Rashford received a bit of booing when he came on as a late substitute. Photo: Getty Images/Oli Scarff
Where did this incarnation of Manchester United take place all season? It was as if they had emerged from a cold vault, radiating a growl, exhilaration, and exhilaration, qualities that were conspicuous by their absence amid the unsettling winter torpor. Here, against a chaotic Chelsea defence, against which they had 28 shots on target, they produced the very antithesis of a horribly anemic performance at Newcastle. That result convinced Erik ten Hag to drop Marcus Rashford: a brutal decision on paper and the first time he'd dropped an England striker strictly on form. But the courage of this step allowed us to achieve a level of energy and enterprise that had not been seen for several months.
This was a candidate for the best worst match you could wish to witness. Defense on both sides was chaotic at times, with Mark Cucurella putting in a performance that left Mauricio Pochettino pale in horror. In the not-too-distant past, such a match would have been a potential title decider. In this case, it was a ramshackle rivalry between two sides trying to reinvent themselves after an excess of fame. And it was United without Rashford who created a more convincing sense of rebirth.
It would be cruel of Rashford to say unequivocally that United would be a better team without him. But his decline was so precipitous that Ten Hag decided his players didn't need one man's struggle for confidence as a subplot. The manager could forgive mistakes. But the most disturbing aspect of Rashford's behavior was his indolence, his sense of indifference to the task. This, according to the Dutchman, was sufficient grounds for his ejection until the 84th minute, when Scott McTominay's second goal finally brought some clarity to the outcome of the match.
Lately, Rashford has become a shadowy figure, a shell of his natural insouciance. The least forgivable element was his attitude, which bordered on carelessness, not least in that grim turn of events in St James's Park. And all it takes is one lethargic player for this mood to spread like a toxin. To be fair, Rashford is not the only culprit. Anthony Martial is also guilty and was sidelined with the same ruthlessness.
Somehow, the pair's absence resulted in a team that Old Trafford fans could warm to. “Bruno,” they chanted after the final whistle, in gratitude for Bruno Fernandes’ amazing performance. This was not just a subjective impression: the captain achieved a passing accuracy of 88 percent and completed 74 passes. All in all, more than enough for the fans to look beyond the botched penalty, which meant United had to wait for their advantage.
The most important save! 🧤
Robert Sanchez prevents Bruno Fernandes from giving Manchester United the lead at Old Trafford#PLonPrime #MUNCHE pic.twitter.com/lPHVZwn6zu
— Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) December 6, 2023
How often has it been said that Fernandes is too temperamental, too capricious, to be captain of this club? Here, to be honest, he was born for this role.
There was also a feeling of sincere adoration for Alejandro Garnacho. The 19-year-old cemented his status as a cult hero with his bicycle kill against Everton last month and here again he showed his natural aptitude for acrobatics. Twice in the space of a minute he drew strange curls on the edge of the area, smiling to himself after he was hopelessly mistaken in the first. This mistake did not dampen the strength of the Stretford End love. United have been waiting a long time for a fearless striker with his own style. They might have found one in the irrepressible young Argentine.
Footballers can move in and out of favor with indecent haste. Take Raheem Sterling, whose suffering at Chelsea was a reminder of how abruptly he went from England's star at the last European Championship to someone who can't even get a place in the squad. The reality for Rashford is even harsher. The poster boy who awakened a nation now resembles a lost soul who can't find respite. Given all this, it would be a surprise if he starts against Bournemouth on Saturday. Ten Hag could easily have decided, after United's most exciting performance of the campaign with Rashford on the bench, to leave it at that.
When the moment finally arrived for Rashford to take the field, there were quiet cheers. from the crowd. His tormentors were a tiny minority, but the fact that they were here at all spoke volumes. A talented United player who grew up just six miles from the ground and is the subject of ridicule? Once upon a time this would have been unthinkable. But Rashford's commitment remains in question. According to many at Old Trafford, this is reason enough to teach him a lesson. Ten Hag has finally found the winning formula. Why change?
This is Garnacho's world now. Every time he picked up the ball for another slalom run, there was a surge of electricity everywhere. It wasn't long ago that Rashford drew the same reaction, with 73,000 viewers voting him favourite. Now, with Garnacho offering an exciting glimpse of the future, Rashford has rarely felt more like the man of yesterday.
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