BASTIAN MAKES IT GAME, SET AND MATCH FOR MOURINHO
IT WASN’T the most graceful overhead kick you will ever see. At the age of 32, and with his fair share of injuries behind him, Bastian Schweinsteiger isn’t as nimble as he used to be.
When Ander Herrera’s header bounced at his feet nine minutes from time, it was surprising that Schweinsteiger had any energy left to hook the ball past Jakob Haugaard for Manchester United’s fourth goal.
This was, after all, his first start for United in 385 days. His other two appearances for Jose Mourinho’s side this season had lasted a combined total of 16 minutes since the end of November.
Until then, the Germany World Cup-winner had been forced to train with the kids and then on his own, an unwanted member of the squad inherited from Louis van Gaal. He has stuck to his guns and yesterday came his reward.
Schweinsteiger stuck the ball in the net and then celebrated with a swing of an imaginary racket in front of his wife,e, retired tennis star Ana Ivanovic.
With Ashley Young ung set to followw Memphis Depayy and Morgan Schneiderlin out of Old Trafford before the transfer window closes tomorrow, Mourinho confirmed that Schweinsteiger will be added to his is Europa Leagueue squad for the last-st-32 tie against SaintEtienne next month.nth.
With United’s pursuit of four trophies making ‘a crazy situation’ of the fixture list, according to their manager, this is unlikely to be the last time Schweinsteiger makes the starting line-up.
‘Yeah, he is staying,’ said Mourinho. ‘He is going on the Europa League list because we don’t have many options in midfield. Ninety minutes today was probably too hard for him, but now I think he’s happy and he was a good professional when he was not playing. With so many competitions and games, he will be an option.’
Mourinho also said this victory had not changed his view of some of the players who put the holders comfortably into the fifth round after he made nine changes. It’s fair to say that applies to Schweinsteiger, who endured a shaky start yesterday, and possibly Luke Shaw, although Anthony Martial impressed after being told to make the most of his opportunity.
Wigan manager Warren Joyce, a former United reserve-team boss, was understandably pleased with his side’s performance for 44 minutes on his return to Old Trafford as they frustrated a side lacking inspiration and played some attractive football of their own.
Indeed, when United made the breakthrough just before halftime, there was not much finesse about it. Wayne Rooney played the ball out to Schweinsteiger on the right and he swung it towards the back post, where Marouane Fellaini overpowered Callum Connolly to head home.
‘A goal you see every week in the Championship,’ lamented Joyce.
The second, in the 57th minute, was not too dissimilar. Martial cut inside and clipped a cross to the
edge of the six-yard box and Chris Smalling rose above Stephen Warnock to beat Haugaard again.
By then, the Championship side had wasted their one big chance, David Perkins failing to beat Sergio Romero after United’s No 2 goalkeeper had pushed Connolly’s cross straight to him following a fine sequence of passes.
‘As good a move as there was in the match,’ added Joyce. ‘Slick football, slick play and you think just hit the back of the net.’
In fairness, the best move of the match preceded United’s third goal as they tore a tired Wigan apart.
Schweinsteiger cleared the ball out of his own box, Rooney laid it off for the excellent Henrikh Mkhitaryan who sent Martial racing down the left. Mkhitaryan set off in support and was perfectly placed to convert from close range when the Frenchman played it back to him. MANCHESTER UNITED (4-2-3-1): Romero 6.5 (Pereira 80min); Fosu-Mensah 6.5 (Tuanzebe 68, 6), Smalling 6.5, Rojo 6, Shaw 6; Schweinsteiger 6.5, Fellaini 6.5 (Herrera 70, 6); Mkhitaryan 8, Mata 6.5, Martial 7; Rooney 7. Subs not used: Ibrahimovic, Blind, Young, Rashford. Manager: Jose Mourinho 7.5. WIGAN ATHLETIC (4-1-4-1): Haugaard 5.5; Connolly 5.5, Burn 6.5, Buxton 6.5, Warnock 6; MacDonald 6 (Browne 76, 6); Power 6.5, Perkins 6 (Wildschut 59, 6), Morsy 6.5, Jacobs 6.5; Grigg 5.5 (Tunnicliffe 70, 6). Subs not used: James, Kellett, Morgan, Jaaskelainen. Booked: Burn. Manager: Warren Joyce 6.5. Man of the match: Henrikh Mkhitaryan. Referee: Neil Swarbrick 7. Attendance: 75,229.