In a convincing 3-0 victory over Leicester City at Old Trafford, Manchester United marked the end of Ruud van Nistelrooy's brief interim tenure with a dominant display that secured their third win in four matches. Bruno Fernandes was the star of the show, scoring once and assisting another, as United completed their most comfortable win of the season.
Fernandes Leads the Way
The match was Fernandes’ 250th appearance for United, and he marked the milestone in style, opening the scoring with a well-struck shot from the edge of the box in the 19th minute. Amad Diallo provided the assist, continuing his solid run of form. Fernandes’ second came in fortunate circumstances.
A header that seemed destined for an easy save instead struck Leicester's Victor Kristiansen and ricocheted into the net for an own goal, doubling United's lead.
With Leicester pressing for an equaliser, their best chance came in the 30th minute when Wilfred Ndidi, clean through on goal, fired straight at Andre Onana. You couldn’t help but think: Ten Hag must be wondering where the goals were before he was sacked. Leicester’s lack of finishing left them frustrated, as they struggled to break down United’s defence.
Garnacho Finishes the Job
In the second half, Alejandro Garnacho, who had a quiet first half, sealed the victory with a third goal in the 69th minute. After a shaky start to the match, he showed great composure, curling a shot into the corner after being set up by Fernandes. It was a sweet finish from the young Argentine, who had previously missed a couple of chances but showed his class when it mattered most.
Van Nistelrooy’s Brief But Impactful Stint
For Van Nistelrooy, it was a fitting end to his time as interim manager. United fans gave him a warm reception, serenading the Dutch legend after the final whistle. His brief tenure saw two wins and a draw, results that, though not transformative, have given new manager Ruben Amorim something to build on. United are in their best form of the season so far, and Amorim should be grateful to Van Nistelrooy for stabilising the ship before his arrival.
Leicester’s Missed Opportunities
Despite their loss, Leicester showed moments of promise. Ndidi’s miss was a glaring example of their poor finishing on the day. Without the veteran presence of Jamie Vardy, Leicester’s attack lacked a cutting edge, and their opportunities came to nothing.
Abdul Fatawu’s long-range effort and Harry Winks’ strike were both comfortably dealt with by Onana, who continued his solid form in goal.
Marching Forward
The victory establishes a strong foundation for the new manager, Ruben Amorim. Although it wasn't a spectacular performance, the result was precisely what the club needed. For Leicester, the defeat marks their heaviest loss of the season, and they will need to regroup quickly if they are to avoid slipping further down the table.
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