Opening day of the season, United vs Leeds, a full capacity crowd back at Old Trafford - it was always poised to be something special on Saturday afternoon. My word, it was special. If anything was to prove United are a force to be reckoned with, it was this.
In terms of the lineup, three alterations were made from the side that beat Everton in the closing pre-season match. De Gea maintained his spot, with Henderson still recovering from his positive Covid-19 test last month. The regular back four from last season started as expected, though Varane will be available next week having been spectacularly announced to the Old Trafford crowd pre-match via a surprise on-pitch presentation - it was a king's welcome for the Frenchman. The legs of McTominay and Fred were deployed in a pivot (to some dismay), but it was blatant that Solskjaer's intention was to match Leeds' trademark energy. Pogba was introduced on the left hand side in Rashford's extended absence, deployed on the opposite flank to the tireless legs of James. Fernandes showed no rust against Everton, consequently starting in behind Greenwood on Saturday.
United's approach was that of an admirably high intensity from the off, with pressure instantly exerted on Leeds. No doubt, the instantaneous desire and resultant commitment to the task at hand was fuelled by the relentlessly bouncing returning crowd. There were some slick pass and move exchanges early on, with every single member of the starting side (very noticeably the midfield unit) all on the same wavelength.
Inside the opening two minutes, United engineered a decent opportunity: McTominay was sent through by Fernandes, but was marginally denied from a replication of his early scoring feat back in December. Leeds definitely seemed to take time to adjust, looking rather disjointed defensively and offering minimal going forward. United successfully forced a number of errors through their endeavour to inflict pressure, unsettling the visiting side. The hosts were certainly the more positive on the ball, always looking to push forward and create openings from the get-go.
The early bombardment didn't faulter, with young Ilan Meslier soon called into action to deny Greenwood, as the ball almost bounced off the United forward and above his grasp following excellent hunger from the red's number eleven to close down the visiting defence. The best early opportunity, however, fell to Pogba. Once again, Greenwood showed perseverance to regain possession before displaying exceptional footwork to break free of his man. Meslier did just about enough on this occasion as well, though, closing down his fellow countryman and forcing the United man to slot narrowly wide with his left foot.
The home side endured a rut of set pieces that came to no avail as Leeds remained disciplined, with the match becoming increasingly fiercely contested - a highlight of the opening period was a crunching challenge from James to deny a potentially threatening counter attack. United continued to get the ball into the right areas, but continuously failed to execute by some rather slim margins.
The opener eventually came for the hosts around the half-hour mark, functioned from a move that commenced following Lindelof utilising his elite awareness to cut out Meslier's slightly stray goal kick. McTominay subsequently played an incisive ball through to Pogba, who dinked it above the Leeds back line into Fernandes' path. The first touch was exquisite from the Portuguese international to take the ball under control, with the his ultimate left-footed finish finding its way beneath Meslier.
"Bruno, Bruno, Bruno" rung around Old Trafford. Wow, hasn't football missed the atmosphere created by the fans?
United continued to marshal their historical rivals, keeping them sufficiently quiet all the way up to the break. The attacking momentum didn't really faulter either, with Shaw and James both coming close before the pause after breaks from the left back. More clinical, and it could've been four or five for United by half time. Nonetheless, it was a positive and very open first half.
The tempo - maintained phenomenally throughout the opening period - marginally dipped heading into the second half. United payed the price. Leeds found far too much space in the final third, with Stuart Dallas able to tee up Luke Ayling who lined up an effort and executed with power from range. The strike was completely against the flow of United's first half dominance, with De Gea given absolutely no chance of denying it such was the quality.
In response, United straight away upped the intensity once more and withheld their own amongst Leeds' sternest test for them. Immediately, the lead was restored. The break for the goal again begun as Lindelof assessed the opposing danger impeccably to cut out a promising move, Shaw was found by the Swede's defensive header and unleased Pogba. The latter threaded the ball sensationally into Greenwood's path with pinpoint accuracy and weight, with the forward taking two touches to drive free; the move was capped off by a typically clinical finish low off the far post, leaving Meslier with no hope of denial.
That was all it took: the Old Trafford crowd was as alight as, and the team thrived off their energy. As a result, the third goal came almost in an instant. Initially, Fred picked off Patrick Bamford's poor touch and fed Pogba into a promising area. The Frenchman spun in style and slotted Fernandes through again; under pressure, he provided a decisive turn to manoeuvre away from Junior Firpo and sit the goalkeeper Meslier down (quite literally). After leaving the defence for dead, Fernandes put just enough on his ultimate effort to prevent Ayling from clearing the ball off the line.
With Old Trafford growingly raucous, United kept shifting up another gear. Momentum was on a high, and Fernandes promptly secured his first ever hat-trick for United. It started from Lindelof again, with the newly-crowned Swedish captain playing a simply stunning ball from his own half over the entire Leeds defence into the path of Bruno's run. With one lofted ball, nothing was translated into quite something. The pass was weighted perfectly for Fernandes to strike first time on the half volley, leaving Meslier hopeless - not for the first time. No penalties in sight!
Last season, the likelihood is that the goal would've been disallowed. However - due to the use of thicker lines by VAR to judge offsides - Fernandes was deemed level and therefore onside. Improvements are already blatant, with the game flowing far more smoothly (and next to no focus was placed on the officials). They really seem to have taken a page out of the book of the officials at the Euros!
With United goals in rapid succession, the game was ripped out of Leeds' grasp. The visitors were frustrated and the away end was silenced as United became superiorly ruthless in the second period. The scoring wasn't done at four, either. There was more flowing passing on display in the buildup to a fifth goal: McTominay started the final move as he played the ball into the hole where Greenwood was situated, with the ball then offloaded to Pogba out wide. Paul became the first United player to manage four assists in a single Premier League match (only the seventh overall), beating his tally of three from each of the previous two seasons as he set up Fred. He cut the ball back first time using his weaker foot to pick out the unlikely scorer arriving late, with the Brazilian finishing for five.
Greeted by a roar as great as a goal, Sancho was subsequently introduced for his debut with around fifteen minutes remaining. Pogba made way with a spring in his step after his four assists, with Martial introduced along with the new-boy for his first competitive appearance since March - he'll be hoping for a better campaign where he can hopefully stay fully fit.
Leeds did have an opportunity for a consolation, but Raphinha somehow squandered his opportunity having been left alone and allowed through on goal. To restrict this Leeds side to only one freak wonder strike is mightily impressive.
The packed Stretford End certainly got a show with four second half goals, as United scored five for the fifth time in the league since Sir Alex's departure (all coming under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer). It's certainly an enthralling start, which couldn't really have gone much better: a hat-trick for Fernandes, and four assists for Pogba bodes well for things to come. Some players had minimal preparation, and some are even yet to return to the squad - which makes the prospect of what's to come even more exciting as the group continues to grow.
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