Mourinho's Man Utd gesture proved right as unlikely hero emerges for Ten Hag

06 December 2023 , 22:40

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Mourinho's Man Utd gesture proved right as unlikely hero emerges for Ten Hag

Scott McTominay continued his goalscoring heroics to ease the pressure on Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag.

McTominay came to Ten Hag's rescue with two goals in added time to snatch a last-gasp win over Brentford back in October. And the midfielder's double here proved just as important, coming against a backdrop of player unrest at United after a run of unconvincing displays.

‌Former United boss Jose Mourinho was so impressed with McTominay he made up an award for him at an end-of-season dinner in 2018. Ten Hag must feel the same debt of gratitude to the Scotland star, for digging him out of a hole once again and delivering him a much-needed victory.

It says everything about United's lack of prowess going forward this season that McTominay is their leading scorer in the Premier League with five goals. Rasmus Hojlund, a £72million summer signing, is still waiting for his first league goal, while last season's 30-goal hero, Marcus Rashford – dropped here – has just two to his name this term.

‌After several stories of players starting to become disillusioned, with United having lost 10 games already this season, a win was vital for Ten Hag and his side played with a spirit and endeavour sorely lacking last weekend. After their abject performances in Saturday's limp 1-0 defeat at Newcastle, forwards Rashford and Anthony Martial were both dropped to the bench.

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‌For Rashford, it was a galling decision, given he had started every Premier League and Champions League game bar two, when he was absent through illness and suspension. But Rashford's wretched form has simply not merited his continued selection, with Ten Hag finally making the call many United fans were demanding weeks ago.

Scott McTominay salutes the Old Trafford crowd (Getty Images)

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United came out of the blocks fast, Bruno Fernandes sendijng a shot just over aftet two minutes, Hojlund forcing a fine save from Robert Sanchez moments later. The home side's early pressure paid off in the seventh minute when United were awarded a penalty, after a VAR review, for a foul by Enzo Fernandez on Antony.

But United skipper Fernandes was unable to take advantage of the early break, his weak spot-kick saved by Sanchez, who endured a frenetic opening 10 minutes. It was all United, but a sloppy ball from Sofyan Amrabat allowed Chelsea to break on the counter-attack, Mykhailo Mudryk out-pacing his pursuers, only to clip a post with his effort.

‌The breakneck end-to-end nature of the contest continued at the other end seconds later, with Alejando Garnacho forcing another vital block from Sanchez. United's relentless pressure finally paid off in the 19th minute when Scott McTominay plundered his fourth goal of the season with a composed finish, after Harry Maguire's initial shot had been blocked.

McTominay could and should have had a second goal just after the half hour, but his glancing header was saved at point-blank range by Sanchez, who also saved the follow-up from the United midfielder. Chelsea should have been level seconds later, when they broke through the United back line, but Raheem Sterling's ball to Nicolas Jackson was too far behind him, allowing Andre Onana to come out and block the shot.

Scott McTominay celebrates his goal with Bruno Fernandes (Getty Images)

The visitors breached United's hesitant defence again moments later, but Mudryk was again unable to turn the chance into the hard currency of a goal, dragging his effort wide. But after so many missed opportunities, Cole Palmer levelled for the Blues in the 45th minute, picking the ball up from Mudryk before a clever run across the United defence and a clinical reverse finish beyond Onana.

‌United conjured the best chances in the second-half, Garnacho curling an ambitious effort over, McTominay heading straight at Sanchez. But McTominay made no mistake in the 69th minute, heading in a Garnacho cross to seal a crucial win for United and their under-fire boss.

David McDonnell