Five things we learned as Manchester United draw against relegated Fulham

For the first time in 14 months, fans were allowed back at Old Trafford. They saw Manchester United draw 1-1 with Fulham.

The team welcomed back the fans with a glamour goal from Edinson Cavani but it was a disappointing result overall.

The draw means second place in the Premier League for United is not guaranteed but a win or draw against Wolves on the last day of the season will be enough.

Here are five things we learned from the game…

Manchester United v Fulham - Premier League — Photo by Phil Noble – Pool/Getty Images

Bruno shines as captain

Presented with the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year award before the game by manager and club legend Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Bruno went on to have a game typical of his season.

The Portuguese Magnifico scurried around the pitch in his usual manner trying to make things happen and got his reward.

With the deftest of flicks, so deft he may not have even touched the ball, Fernandes put Edinson Cavani through to score a goal of the season contender.

Even if Fernandes did not touch the ball, the skill required to draw the defender in and the awareness of Cavani’s movement behind shows why he is considered one of the best players in the world.

Tonight was an opportunity to show his leadership quality and he kept the team driving forward right to the end.

FBL-ENG-PR-MAN UTD-FULHAM — Photo by PAUL ELLIS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

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Cavani scores a wondergoal

Edinson Cavani scored a special goal tonight eerily similar to that of another legend to wear the No.7 – David Beckham.

In 2002, Beckham scored a memorable goal after a wonderful assist from midfield maestro Juan Sebastien Veron, chipping the goalkeeper with the same swagger and impudence that Cavani did tonight.

It was a spectacular goal for United fans to see for the first time in more than a year and shows his pure world-class talent.

The goal shows that the decision to extend his contract by another year was shrewd business from Ole, especially when doubts were cast over signing him in the first place.

Cavani will be crucial to any title charge or Champions League football next season.

Henderson dropped or rested?

The debate around United’s No.1 position continues to swirl and was given further fuel as David De Gea was given the nod ahead of Dean Henderson.

There is always plenty that can be read into these decisions. Was Henderson dropped for conceding four goals against Liverpool in the last game, or was Ole giving De Gea his final start at Old Trafford in a United shirt?

You could argue Henderson was at fault for two of the goals in the Liverpool loss, something De Gea has been dropped for in the past.

But more likely is that this the beginning of a long good bye to an excellent servant of the club, even if De Gea does end up starting the Europa League final.

United welcome fans back to Old Trafford

Although it could have been a better result to welcome the United fans back to Old Trafford for the first time since the team beat Manchester City last march, it was still a beautiful sight to see.

United have struggled massively this season at home and the return of fans to the Theatre of Dreams could be just what Ole’s side need to chase silverware next season – even if it did not spark a winning return to form here.

Fans will also be able to apply further pressure on the Glazer owners to sell the club or seriously reform the way they run it.

Plenty of United fans made their way into the stadium, adorned with the green and gold colours of the anti-Glazer movement.

Let’s hope the players manage to give them more to cheer about next season.

Warming up for the Europa League final

Was tonight’s starting XI the one we will see against Villareal in the Europa League final next Wednesday?

It would make sense. United fans have had their doubts over a Fred and McTominay central defensive midfield partnership this season but this does seem like Solskjaer’s preferred combination.

The ‘McFred’ combination has worked well against big sides in Europe this season and they do absorb pressure well, reacting quickly to collect the ball in United’s half.

Paul Pogba on the left of midfield and Bruno Fernandes in the middle seems almost guaranteed, as does Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Luke Shaw in the full-back positions.

The remaining question marks will be over Rashford or Greenwood to start and what the centre-back pairing will look like, with Maguire at risk of missing out.

Lindelof and Tuanzebe were largely untroubled against Fulham, with the goal coming from poor marking from Wan-Bissaka.

Ole can feel confident in his attacking players for the final but it is that defensive line that will require most thought, as tonight’s easily conceded goal made apparent.

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