Manchester United took the trip to London on Sunday, facing Crystal Palace in a tense Premier League encounter.
With Ruben Amorim’s side down by one at halftime, Manchester United were desperate not to fall into old habits, with their loss against Everton ending their five-game unbeaten run. Those around the game were starting to question if United fans should give up hope of the club changing.
However, Dutch international Joshua Zirkzee made sure to keep United in the game with a second-half recovery from the forward, breaking United’s unlucky run at Selhurst Park, with the Reds not having won a game away at Crystal Palace since 2020.
The forward’s first league goal transformed the game with a Mason Mount free kick, leaving Palace behind and in an uncommon position of vulnerability.
After the match, Mount revealed the encouraging words captain Bruno Fernandes shared with him just before he scored to give United the lead.
Mount reveals conversation he had with Fernandes
After the game, reporters asked Mount about the moments before his free kick, asking whether he knew Fernandes was going to nudge the ball to him.
“[I knew] quite late. It was a late one. I said, No, you shoot, because the sun was obviously creating a bit of a distraction for Deano [Dean Henderson] in goal. And then he said, no, no, I’m going to roll it, and he rolled it straight away.
“So it was about, I think, if you watch it back and see my reaction, it was a bit late. But I get there first, and it was just about hitting the target then.”
The English midfielder was then asked if it was a training ground routine or simply a spur-of-the-moment decision, to which is replied, “I think it’s a bit of both. We tried it in pre-season when we were out in America. I missed the opportunity, but ot was very similar to the one today.
“So as soon as I can get my shot off, it was about hitting the target. But also a bit of spur-of-the-moment, a bit of creativity.
“I think that’s what you need sometimes to create the opportunity. And they didn’t see that coming. I don’t think.”
Fernandes’ invention during the second half, evidenced by the conversation with Mount, was something the club desperately needed to force Palace back into their own half, and ultimately was the catalyst for the three points.
Positives from United’s win
There’s a lot to take from United’s most recent fixture: a big success was the resilience the team showed under pressure, with their renewed intensity after half-time securing them the three points.
Read More: “Best one…” – Ruben Amorim reveals three tactical changes for Manchester United vs Crystal Palace
Furthermore, Mount’s goal showed improvements in their set pieces. From what Mount said, it’s evident that the squad have been focusing on perfecting their set-piece routines during training, something that is vital in this new era of football, with a talented squad simply not enough to win any major titles.
Alongside this, United’s squad depth and strength were also evident in the Palace match, with Zirkzee’s scoring drought coming to an end, proving to competitors that United have alternative options in attacking positions and showing they’re not a team to be undermined.
Finally, the fact that United were able to come back from a home defeat with a win away shows a change in the team’s mental strength, shifting from when the team would expect the loss after conceding one and fighting for the win, resulting in the team restarting their unbeaten streak and staying a team to be feared in upcoming fixtures.
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