The distance between the substitutes dilutes the passion and makes them feel more detached from their regular teammates, although if the Manchester United warmers had been closer, their reaction to reaching the third semi-final of the season would have been equally attenuated.
United players and staff reacted shrilly to the final as schoolchildren walking out of the lecture hall. Those on the pitch were looking after Bruno Fernandes, who was suffering from cramps, and the new United jerseys were so drenched in sweat from the Cologne heat that the color had faded from scarlet to blood red.
There was so much indifference to the result that Odion Ighalo was apparently indifferent to the lead role. Ighalo showed Dimitar Berbatov’s touch in his cameo in the Manchester derby and there was another parallel in his delaying response to the warm-up request. When Richard Hartis, the goalkeepers coach, informed Ighalo that he should emerge in extra time of extra time, he did not get up from his seat the moment the referee had signaled full time.
Ighalo’s presence allowed United to rest their current number nine, Anthony Martial, and better handle a similar workload that caused Marcus Rashford such conflict in the fall when Martial was prone. Ighalo started in Martial’s place against LASK Linz last week and the draw in Copenhagen was the Frenchman’s first significant encounter since last day’s win in Leicester 15 days earlier.
Martial was among the recalled regulars struggling for pace until his curler in the 84th minute was flaunted by Karl-Johan Johnsson. From then on, Martial was galvanized and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer adapted the shift in extra time to Martial’s strengths by introducing Juan Mata for Mason Greenwood.
Mata spoke of a ‘predilection’ for Martial and for the second European draw their telepathy was almost instantaneous. Martial wasted a presentable opportunity from a probing pass from Mata moments before being dragged inside the area, having again received the ball from the Spaniard.
United’s last three penalties have all been won by Martial, who somehow hadn’t earned any of their previous 18 this season. His feet move at blurry speed within the penalty area and Martial was unlucky for not getting a penalty kick from a clumsy barge in the first half of regulation time.
“He was sharp, Anthony developed all season and he got involved in the pen today, I think,” Solskjaer said. “It’s impossible to stop when he gets the ball to his liking and pushes people. He can go either way. The only thing now is to put the ball back in the net but happy with the performance.” Owen Hargreaves compared Martial to a Ferrari and “looked like a £ 100 million player”.
Martial is still United’s overall top scorer and may be complaining that he didn’t open the light of day between himself and Marcus Rashford, again ineffective and lucky to stay for the start of extra time. Rashford has been putting out an air of entitlement for some time and cannot compromise his commendable philanthropy during below average performances.
Rashford is represented by his siblings, teased enough by Patrice Evra’s criticism last month to post a passive aggressive tweet in defense of his brother’s form. Rashford has only been successful in two of United’s 13 games since the football hiatus ended (Southampton and Crystal Palace), but the only expert alternative left is Martial, unstoppable at the tip of the arrow.
Martial has that enviable ability to save performance without performing properly. He did it against Manchester City and Chelsea this year and added a new string to his bow by delivering winning penalties for Bruno Fernandes.
“Once again I’ll give you a penalty but next time I’ll shoot,” Martial wrote to Fernandes on his Instagram Story. Johnsson foiled him on three occasions.
Solskjaer shouted instructions to Greenwood and Rashford, but left Martial to himself. He remained inactive for 80 minutes until he suddenly changed gears against the worn-out Copenhagen defenders.
A player’s nationality can subconsciously influence perceptions and Rashford always has a better press through portrayal of England and is generally more media friendly with harmless guests.
Martial rarely smiles and can be aloof to the point that he had no eye contact during his only meeting with reporters over four years ago. The pair have identical stats (31 Premier League starts and 17 goals) but Martial, not as addicted to penalties, is having a superior season and has more than four more goals after the block.
“I think Martial is a world-class player,” said Robin van Persie. United have not had such a complete striker since Van Persie was devastated by Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement. They might now.
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One Response
Yes, absolutely