Life under interim manager Michael Carrick has been sweet for Manchester United, and a 3-1 win over Aston Villa on Sunday afternoon will do their chances of a top three finish in the Premier League a world of good. There's now a strong feeling at Old Trafford that a return to the Champions League next term is surely on the cards after extending their unbeaten run to 12 matches.
Casemiro was the man of the moment again as his fine header escaped the grasp of Emiliano Martinez in the 53rd minute. While Villa were able to hit back almost instantly through Ross Barkley, further goals from Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko swayed the momentum back into the hosts' favour.
But that doesn't mean there aren't still major areas for improvement for the Red Devils, and there's one player in their ranks that looks like he's stuck in translation, as if United have moved on from Ruben Amorim's topsy-turvy tenure and left him stuck in the mud of yesteryear. It will surely be a key area that will be addressed in the summer transfer window.
One Man United Player is Holding his Side Back as Carrick Tenure Rolls on
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Diogo Dalot has become something of a scapegoat over the last few months. But after his performance against Aston Villa this weekend, it was difficult to defend him, even as his teammates’ high-level performances helped spare him heavier scrutiny. Operating much higher than his usual right-back role, the Portuguese defender missed two huge chances that could have given his side clear daylight.
In possession, alongside those two missed big chances, he lost the ball nine times and failed to complete a single cross from three attempts, while blushing at a final third pass success rate of just 64 per cent. At times, his creative and attacking display appeared as though he was throwing things at a wall to see which stuck.
Of course, those blunders might have been overlooked if the 26-year-old had made up for them with solid defensive work. But that was not the case. Dalot won just two of his five ground duels, was dribbled past twice, and only succeeded in 50 per cent of the tackles he attempted.
Man United Consolidate Top Three Position in Premier League
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It’s been a long time coming, but Man United now find themselves back on the Premier League podium, three points clear of Aston Villa with a superior goal difference. The good times seem to be returning to Old Trafford, and that is largely down to a healthy mix of Michael Carrick’s work to restore the feel-good factor and his star names finally pulling their weight instead of leaving others to carry the can.
Rumours still suggest the caretaker has not done enough to secure the job beyond the summer, but it is becoming increasingly difficult to look past his impact. Carrick has managed to steady the ship and breathe life back into a side that looked completely devoid of confidence at the turn of the year.