Jan’s the man for United
Recalled forward hits United winner
ADNAN JANUZAJ grabbed a chance to revive his Old Trafford career with the goal that gave Manchester United two wins out of two. Manager Louis van Gaal handed the 20-year-old striker his first start since February 11 — and he responded with a piece of skill that put Villa captain Micah Richards on his backside before his shot was deflected into the net. Januzaj, a sensation when he first broke into the team under David Moyes, had appeared to be out of favour under Van Gaal and was linked with a loan move away to Sunderland. But he insisted he wants to stay at Old Trafford. ‘It was only rumours. I am happy and of course I am going to fight for my place. I hope to get more games and to score more goals,’ said Januzaj, who bagged his first goal since April 2014. The victory extended United’s unbeaten league run at Villa Park to 20 years. They have now not lost at Villa Park in the Barclays Premier League since a 3-1 defeat in August 1995.
NO, this isn’t the most thrilling Manchester Unit e d team of recent year, but it is getting the job done while Louis van Gaal waits for his last round of reinforcements to arrive.
Two wins in a week, both by the most slender margin, with no goals conceded. Not vintage, but there are plenty out there who would have settled for it. Chelsea and Arsenal, for instance.
Aston Villa were poor in the first half, better in the second, but United had them at arm’s length, either way. The best chances fell to the away team — not least in the 73rd minute, when Juan Mata set Memphis Depay clear, only for the Dutchman to steer his shot wide of the far post, one on one.
A second would not have been undeserved. United might not be the scintillating force of old, but they are a tidy and efficient unit and were much the better side.
One of the reasons for switching this match to a Friday night — and traffic chaos reigned outside, as expected — was to avoid encroaching on Manchester United’s Champions League preparations, and it would be a surprise in the extreme if they failed to overcome Bruges of Belgium on Tuesday.
It was a Belgian who did the damage here — Adnan Januzaj with the 29th-minute winner, having received a rare start in a league game, and in a forward role, too.
He played behind Wayne Rooney after impressing Van Gaal in traini ng this week, although some cynics would suggest it was a ploy to put him in the shop window with the arrival of Barcelona’s Pedro imminent.
It would be a pity, though, if United could not find room for such a bright talent in their squad.
Why should Januzaj have to go to Sunderland to get a game? He more than justified his inclusion here, with a goal and a lively first-half performance, even if Van Gaal withdrew him to shore up the midfield with Ander Herrera on the hour.
Once Januzaj was off, United threatened less with Rooney still looking curiously ineffectual in his striking role.
With an hour gone, he still hadn’t touched the ball in the opposing penalty area, and most of United’s threat came from his supporting forwards, most particularly Januzaj and Depay.
Maybe that is the plan — the way Michael Owen was used to help create the space for a young Rooney during his first major tournament for England, the 2004 European Championship. Perhaps that is Rooney’s fate now, although, if so, it seems one hell of a waste.
Ashley Young has revived his Manchester United career under Van Gaal, but the increasing depth of the squad was underlined by the sight of him parked on the bench, Januzaj in his place.
Van Gaal explained that he was responding to Januzaj’s positive performances in training by giving him a run in what he termed his favourite position: No 10.
What Rooney makes of it in private, who knows? No 10 used to be his role, although recently United have seemed to buy little else. Januzaj is a 10, so is Mata and Young, if he wishes. Depay can play there, too.
United seem to have a lot of 10s and a dearth of No 9s, unless one includes James Wilson and Javier Hernandez, returning f rom an inconsistent loan spell with Real Madrid. Rooney has to be United’s goalscorer now, although f or the first 45 minutes he seemed anything but.
It must be very frustrating to be asked to play a selfless role as the spearhead, until Van Gaal can locate another forward; particularly watching Januzaj thrive in the supporting role.
For Van Gaal’s decision to switch Januzaj for Young paid off. He was the best of it for United early, got the goal that broke the deadlock and set up some of the best chances. He had what Villa lacked, sharp- ness of thought around the box.
The home team, it must be said, were disappointing.
It was plain to see what Tim Sherwood was trying to achieve, but all the best chances of the first half fell to United.
Alex Ferguson’s teams often started at a high tempo. Van Gaal’s seem to ease their way into a game, and so it was here.
Not until the 16th minute did United fashion a worthy scoring chance, and even then it was from a set piece. New signing Depay is a dead-ball specialist and his freekick from the left presented a real danger to Villa, who failed to spot Morgan Schneiderlin on the blind side at the far post.
Depay’s delivery was perfect, not so Schneiderlin’s finish, a stooping header steered well wide.
In the 20th minute, a panicked Villa clearance struck one of their own players and rebounded towards goal, teeing up an excellent opportunity for Depay.
He is a flying machine, the Dutchman, making it all the more impressive that Brad Guzan got to the loose ball first, and won a brave 50-50 with an absolutely thundering tackle.
Seven minutes later, Januzaj was the provider — another good cross that deserved a better finish.
This time Depay was the culprit, getting his angles all wrong, and delivering a tame header that went straight and wide, to the derision of the locals.
They weren’t smiling for much longer.
Januzaj started the move that resulted in United’s first-half goal, and finished it, too. It was his ball out to the left that, after a swift interchange of passes, was slipped in by Mata, exquisitely weighted and catching Villa’s defence square.
MICAH Richards, the new captain, came haring across, but in vain. Januzaj, cool as you like, brought the ball under control, shifted his angle and shot towards the far post, clipping Ciaran Clark on the way.
It was no more than United deserved; they had been much the better side and made all the running.
Villa did not test second- string goalkeeper Sergio Romero once; a dismal failing in the circumstances. Opponents really should be taking advantage of the uncertainty around David de Gea right now. It won’t last.