Manchester United’s excellent start to life under Michael Carrick continued with a 2-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford.
The Red Devils have now won four in a row under their caretaker manager, who has a 100% win rate in his second stint at the club so far.
Carrick
After dominating the first half on hour, Carrick’s side gained a man advantage following a reckless challenge by Spurs captain Cristian Romero. He received a straight red card after a dangerous tackle on Casemiro, which caught him studs up on the ankle.
Just nine minutes after the red card, United took the lead. It was a brilliant corner routine which saw them go 1-0 ahead, with Bruno Fernandes playing it short to Kobbie Mainoo.
The Carrington graduate found Bryan Mbeumo in acres of space, with the striker doing the rest and tucking home into the bottom corner.
Mbeumo
The Red Devils had moments to double their lead, but it wasn’t until the 81st minute that they managed to do so. Of course, it had to be captain Fernandes to seal the win, with a brilliant strike in front of the Stretford End.
It was another huge win for Carrick’s side, with Mainoo once again standing out.
A look at Mainoo’s performance vs. Spurs
20-year-old Mainoo is reminding the world why he is one of the best young players on the planet. Carrick is backing him to run the midfield, and that is exactly what the United number 37 does week in, week out.
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The midfielder pulled the strings in the middle of the park, and it was his pass that teed up Mebumo for the first goal.
It was a perfectly weighted ball to the Cameroonian, touching Fernandes’ cross round the corner into the path of the United attacker, who did the rest.
Indeed, his numbers from the game show just how well he played. Mainoo was influential in the middle of the park, with 95 touches of the ball, and a creative force in the final third, playing four key passes. Off the ball, he made four ball recoveries and won eight duels.
Someone who was left impressed by Mainoo’s performance was Goal journalist Richard Martin. He gave the Red Devils star a rating of 8/10, describing his performance as an 'excellent display' and said he 'ensured United stayed in control' throughout the game.
Mainoo-1
It is fair to say he is undroppable under Carrick, just like another rejuvenated star.
The other undroppable member of Carrick’s side
After struggling for his best form under former manager Ruben Amorim, Diogo Dalot seems like a player reborn.
Back at his preferred right-back role, the Portuguese star once again shone against Spurs, continuing his excellent form.
D Dalot
Martin saw the United number two as a standout against the Lilywhites, also giving him an 8/10 for his efforts. He described Dalot’s afternoon as a 'strong overall performance', praising him for 'defending diligently and linking up well with the attack'.
It was the Portugal international who grabbed the assist for United’s second goal. He set up his countryman Fernandes with a superb cross into the box, which sailed over Benjamin Sesko’s head and fell perfectly for his captain to fire home.
Dalot’s excellent showing was certainly reflected in his numbers at full-time. He had 78 touches of the ball, creating two chances and completing 100% of his crosses.
Off the ball, he won three from four tackles, six duels and made three ball recoveries.
Dalot key stats vs. Spurs
Stat
Touches
Cross accuracy
Pass accuracy
Duels won
Tackles won
Ball recoveries
Key passes
Assists
Although Noussair Mazrazoui is back and fully available after AFCON, it seems unlikely that Dalot is dropped from the side by Carrick any time soon.
He’s impressed in the United interim’s first four games, as his performance against Spurs showed.
Diogo Dalot for Man United
If Dalot can keep up this sort of form, whilst contributing with assists, too, then there is no reason for the United gaffer to drop him.
He could certainly be considered undroppable, and it seems unlikely he’ll lose his spot for the trip to West Ham United on Tuesday, having previously looked so unsuited to Amorim's wing-back system.
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