Manchester United attacked Brighton from the first whistle last night as the team came out of the blocks fast.
After a slow start in the FA Cup against Norwich, this was exactly what supporters, and manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wanted to see.
Speaking after the game, Solskjaer praised the front four as key to United success, saying that he felt they set the tone and made life difficult for Brighton.
Solskjaer told the club website: “I rate this performance highly. Fantastic from the word go. The boys were full of confidence and quality. We played some exceptional stuff.
“It’s always hard to play against Brighton, Graham’s teams keep the ball well, but I thought we pressed them well from the front – Anthony, Marcus, Mason, Bruno showed intensity and the intent.
“We spoke about intent before the game, on and off the ball, and when we had it, we tried to create and we did create with some fantastic goals.”
Made it look easy
Mason Greenwood netted United’s first goal after just 16 minutes, before Bruno Fernandes doubled United’s lead in the 29th. By time Fernandes scored the third in the 50th minute, the game was over.
This is what the Manchester United of old used to do. We used to overpower teams early on and have them beat before an hour was gone.
With form like this, it is almost a shame this is not the start of a new season, as it feels like this United side is capable of consistent quality which could, whisper it, begin to put together a title challenge.
For now we deal with the hand the team dealt themselves pre-Fernandes, and that is a battle to claim a Champions League place.
Right now we are chasing down Chelsea and Leicester, while Wolves are hanging around too, level on points with us.
If the team continue to play like this, we will be fine. There is a lot of upside right now, and Solskjaer has the team on the right track.
He is clearly thrilled with his players, and they are responding to him, doing what he wants them to do. When manager and players of this quality are in sync together, good things tend to happen.
- When Sir Alex Ferguson went to the World Cup: The story of Mexico ’86
- Micah Richards refuses to rule out Man Utd’s ‘massive draw’ in luring one midfield target to Old Trafford
- Man Utd academy striker now wanted on permanent deal by Bundesliga side, Ineos have clear stance
- How Cristiano Ronaldo deeply influenced former Man Utd teammate’s debut in his second spell at Old Trafford
- Harry Amass might be Lewis Hall alternative for Man Utd, but there is one big factor to solve
- Man Utd scouting trips vindicated as Ajax enter advanced talks for Michael Noonan
- Erik ten Hag ‘kept sending’ one former Man Utd star ‘messages’ that he wanted to bring him to Old Trafford
- Man Utd have just signed the player Liverpool should have bought to replace Brazil star, says ESPN expert
- Wayne Rooney drops new Premier League 2026/27 prediction involving Man Utd and three more teams
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
