Leicester vs Manchester United a few quick thoughts
Dan Tracey
August 8, 2016
1,469 Views
- It’s first blood to Manchester United and a first piece of silverware for Jose Mourinho in his reign as Manchester United manager
- In a game played in the boiling summer sun it certainly had the air of an exhibition in the first 20 minutes or so as players from both sides showed signs of ring rust before the start of the new season
- Leicester arguably had the better of the early chances with Shinji Okazaki’s curling effort from outside the area falling just wide of the post and then he was also unfortunate enough to see his header come back off the frame of David De Gea’s goal
- But it was to be United who registered the first goal of the afternoon and once again it was Jesse Lingard who was on hand to score another impressive Wembley goal
- After his winner in last season’s F.A. Cup Final he then added a solo strike to his collection.
- He weaved through the heart of the Leicester defence and left Wes Morgan for dead, he may have fortunate to keep his balance but he showed great composure to slot the ball past Kasper Schmeichel and put Unites ahead
- That goal certainly woke the game up and the encounter became more alive
- Going into the break United went in with a slender advantage but Leicester were still very much in the proceedings
- With 6 subs allowed for either side there was always going to be a raft of changes and The Tinkerman Claudio Ranieri threw on record signing Ahmed Musa after the break to inject further pace into the Leicester side
- And just 7 minutes after the restart The Foxes would get their just rewards as Marouane Fellaini’s misplaced backpass was seized on by Jamie Vardy
- He doesn’t need to be asked twice to take an opportunity like that and he rounded David De Gea with ease and slotted into an empty net to restore parity
- Fellaini’s place in the squad was always going to be in danger due to the sheer amount of midfielders that Jose Mourinho has at his disposal and that blunder will have done his hopes no good
- If anything it has probably won him a move to Sunderland to link up with David Moyes again
- With the scores now level and the heat having an effect on the game there were countless substitutions. United goalscorer Jesse Lingard was to be bought off for Juan Mata, more on Mata later
- Ahmed Musa nearly made himself a hero with 9 minutes to go, his deft header had too much on it and it sailed over the bar. Not quite a guilt edged chance but one that he should have perhaps slotted home
- In terms of “Zlatan Watch” he didn’t have a particularly good game but he still stole the headlines
- With just 7 minutes to go and the game heading to penalties, he was in the perfect place to head home Antonio Valencia’s right wing cross.
- Ibrahimovic’s header was inch perfect as it nestled in off the post past the despairing Schmeichel
- Leicester still had time to mount a late onslaught in a bid to level for a second time
- Luis Hernandez’s long throws were causing carnage in the United box but in the melee of players which now included the Leicester keeper Schemichel, they couldn’t manage to force the ball home
- With the game petering out there was time for one more substation
- Henrikh Mkhitaryan was to make his domestic United bow and he was bought on for Juan Mata
- The sub had been subbed
- An embarrassing end to the day for Mata and he didn’t look best pleased when Mourinho went to put an arm around him
- Mourinho has already got rid of him once, he now look odds on to send Mata packing for a second time before the month is out
- With the final substitution made, Craig Pawson blew his whistle soon after to signify that United were to be the 2016 Community Shield winners
- Leicester were unfortunate in defeat and haven’t lost too much of their edge from last season
- As to where they will finish though depends on how bright they can start their campaign
- Eric Bailly looked impressive for United and rightfully was the Man of the Match. A partnership of him and Chris Smalling could finally give United the defensive platform that they have been lacking over the last couple of seasons
- Luke Shaw looked lively down the left hand side, so much so that he pinned back Riyad Mahrez for the majority of the game. Performances like that will surely see him back in the England squad soon under new boss Sam Allardyce
- You obviously don’t want to read too much into a Community Shield but it’s the perfect warm up for United
- Now for the season proper which starts on Saturday
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