Manchester United didn’t have a lot to write home about from their goalless draw against Leeds but one player was different class.
The game will make the headlines for Matheus Cunha’s debut and how good he looked, or Diego Leon taking his first steps in English football.
There was also the debut of Bendito Mantato, long tipped for a breakthrough, while Rasmus Hojlund continued to try hard but struggled.
However, one player showed in a single moment that he is the solution to Ruben Amorim’s big problem at Man Utd.
Ayden Heaven’s moment of magic
Ayden Heaven had surpassed all expectations even before starting this season, so good was he in a wretched 2024/25 season despite his injuries.
The hope was that Heaven would build on a pre-season this time, get settled at Man Utd, and reach greater heights.
However, anyone who has seen Heaven’s career so far will know that the defender just doesn’t do slow burn. He’s one to blast through doors.
Against Leeds, he did so again, standing out as the best player on the pitch for both his attacking and defensive prowess.
Be it handling Daniel James’ pace with brains rather than brawn, or using his silky skills on the ball to evade the press, Heaven was a different class against Leeds.
A moment in the 58th minute summed up a player who has confidence flowing through his veins.
Heaven received the ball under immense pressure near his own box as Leeds squeezed the pitch. After exchanging passes with Tom Heaton and failing to break the press, Heaven took matters into his own hands.
He dropped his shoulder to evade one player and then pinged the ball straight into the chest of his teammate at the halfway line.
In just one moment, defence was turned into attack as Leeds had to run back towards their own goal, having been bypassed completely by one passage of play.
Heaven will solve Man Utd’s big issue
That moment in the 58th minute wasn’t just important in the game, but it also paints a promising picture for the rest of the season.
Man Utd fans can’t count on two hands the number of occasions the side gave the ball away in their own half while building up last season.
It didn’t even need a cohesive pressing plan half the time, as the player panicked under the slightest opposition presence or straight-up made unforced errors.
Heaven stepping up as a genuine ball-playing option alleviates some of the concerns, even more so due to his left-footedness opening up the other half of the pitch.
Having a player in the backline who relishes having the ball in difficult situations and wants to take the initiative of breaking the pressure is an invaluable asset to have.
The moment against Leeds was just a glimpse. Heaven should be empowered to do it continuously going forward. Mistakes will also happen with his style of play, but mistakes due to confidence are much easier to digest than those due to a lack of it.
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