Ruud’s 100% unbeaten tenure as interim boss continued on Thursday night, as we swept aside Greek high-flyers PAOK 2-0 in a game that probably won’t live long in the memory.
Amad Diallo was the standout player’ scoring both goals and putting in a MOTM performance that was head-and-shoulders above his teammates. United jump from 22nd to 15th in the Europa League table; still three points off the automatic qualification spots.
a slow first half with few chances
United lined up with a centre-back pairing that had only started together once before: Lindelof and Jonny Evans. Amad Diallo for Marcus Rashford on the right was the other change.
It was a half of few chances and little quality, and the teams more-or-less cancelled each other out. PAOK were happy to soak up possession and counter United, which led to Mady Camara’s goal-bound strike being blocked by Casemiro in the opening exchanges. We probably should have had a penalty a short while later, with the dangerous Diallo being bundled over by ex-Chelsea left-back Baba Rahman, but it wasn’t given. Aside from that, we showed little threat.
Second half: step up AMAD
United didn’t set the world alight in the second half either, but Amad Diallo was the difference-maker.
We did play with more intensity and five minutes after the restart, Bruno’s cross was met with a clever, looping header from the young Ivorian to put us 1-0 up.
PAOK rallied and really should have equalised shortly after, Tarik Tissoudali firing tamely at Onana from no more than 6 yards out.
The moment of the game though came on 77 minutes, Amad pressed Baba to win the ball back high up the pitch before unleashing a screamer from outside the box. Marcus Rashford should have added to the lead late one but rolled the ball inches wide. PAOK never really looked like getting back into it after that, even though their excellent away support never stopped singing.
Player Ratings & MOTM
Onana – 7: Solid when called on and good distribution
Dalot – 6: Decent defensively and creative at times
Evans – 7: Mostly dependable and led the back line well
Lindelof – 6.5: A bit rusty at first – but generally dependable
Mazraoui – 7: Yet another good display in and out of possession
Casemiro – 7: Made a great block early on and was great on the ball again moving forward
Ugarte – 6: Gave the ball away a few times but fairly solid defensively
Fernandes – 7: Set up the goal and involved in most attacking things, but not as influential as some recent games
Garnacho – 6.5: Some great creative moments but end product sometimes lacking
Hojlund – 5: Starved of service and didn’t really affect the game
Subs:
Marcus Rashford (65′ for Garnacho) – 6/10
Christian Eriksen (65′ for Ugarte) – 6/10
Lisandro Martinez (65′ for Dalot) – 6/10
Mason Mount (82′ for Amad) – N/A
Joshua Zirkzee (90′ for Hojlund) – N/A
Looking forward
United welcome Leicester to Old Trafford on Sunday before the international break.
We beat Leicester 5-2 in Ruud’s first game in charge, and we just need more of the same. We looked good in that game and it would be great to send him off with a convincing win before the international break and the daw of a new era under Ruben Amorim.