Marcus Rashford double sees Manchester United breeze past Leicester in 3-0 victory

Manchester United put three past Leicester City as they climb within three points of Manchester City in the Premier League table.

In a massive week for Manchester United, their dress rehearsal ahead of their second leg against Barcelona in the Europa League and League Cup final against Newcastle United a week today couldn’t have been better, as they eased past Leicester City in a 3-0 win. 

A Marcus Rashford double, followed by Jadon Sancho, put the result at ease. 

The game started with a controlling tempo from Manchester United, a standard you’ve come to expect from Erik ten Hag’s side at home in recent months. 

But the visitors were the first to pose any threat with a one-two with Harvey Barnes and Kelechi Iheanacho, with the former receiving a neatly played-through ball from the latter, forcing David de Gea to make his first contribution of the game by making himself big and denying the opener.

Leicester’s threat caused United’s rotated defence continual problems. James Maddison, Leicester’s captain on the day, slid through a pass to put Iheanacho in on goal, but his miss-hit, combined with the incoming Victor Lindelöf, saw the shot dribble past the near post. 

De Gea was called into action again, and he responded in the only way he knew how to; incredibly. 

Castagne got to the by-line and floated a cross towards the unmarked Iheanacho. The Nigerian directed his header downwards, which was spectacularly saved by de Gea. 

All of Leicester’s threat and aggressive push for the lead was not enough to stop the inevitable force, Marcus Rashford.

It was a quick transition from United against the run of play. The Leicester defence, specifically the centre-backs, were too slow to react, Harry Souttar isn’t quick enough to step, and Marcus makes well of Fernandes’ pass and slots into the far left corner.

*Thanos clicks*

A swift move from United, Bruno Fernandes picks the ball out on the right. His in swinging cross is met with a mere glance from Diogo Dalot. It seemed the right-back tried to finish with his weak foot — left — but it showed why it’s his weaker foot. 

In the second half, Ten Hag made his first substitution of the game; Jadon Sancho on, Alejandro Garnacho off. Garnacho has yet to make a considerable impact as a starter, with much of the dynamic spark that United fans have seen from him off the bench.

The Reds started the second at a similar pace that they ended the first. Luke Shaw’s exceptional delivery of his free-kick was met by Lisandro Martínez, whose header crashed the crossbar.

Rashford as the player he is could sense the fear in the Leicester defence. His sheer presence was enough to startle any defensive set-up with which Brendan Rodgers came into the game. Fred spotted the inside run of Rashford, played him in, and the rest was made easy by United’s No. 10 as he cut in and slotted it through Danny Ward. 

Rashford would be denied of his second, momentary. As VAR intervened, its intervention noted more than a pause in Rashford’s routine celebrations. 

Leicester’s fear extended from Rasjford to United’s attack as a whole. Ten Hag’s side could smell the fear, and they started to hunt their prey. Lisandro Martínez pounced on Iheanacho, and Rashford could progress through the field; he played it to Sancho, who exchanged a one-two with Fernandes, and Sancho was able to bury the ball into an open net. 

There was something Ajax-like with United’s third; the pressing, the aggression, the incisive passing, and the ease in the final third. 

During times this season, ten Hag has usually let out a smirk from the football his side has played; there would’ve been no more giant smirk than the one who would’ve let out after Sancho’s goal.

The chants started to ring out, “olé” and “Rooney! Rooney!” as Jamie Vardy entered the pitch were the prominent ones. United fans were enjoying themselves, and they had every right to. 

A Kobbie Mainoo Premier League debut was the icing on a lovely Sunday afternoon cake.