Lessons learned from an incredible performance and win for Leeds United at Old Trafford.
Leeds United created history for the second time in two games following Monday’s 2-1 victory at Manchester United. The Whites followed up a first FA Cup quarter-final win since 1987 with a first league triumph at Old Trafford for 45 years, with Noah Okafor’s first-half double proving decisive.
Manchester United went down to 10 men when Lisandro Martinez was shown a straight red card for a hair pull on Dominic Calvert-Lewin. The hosts did manage to pull one back through Casemiro, however, with his back-post header from a Bruno Fernandes cross making for a nervy finish.
Ao Tanaka decision pays off
With Anton Stach sidelined due to an ankle injury, there was a space in the team open next to Ethan Ampadu and Tanaka was rewarded for an encouraging performance at West Ham. Farke could have gone for defensive solidity with Ilia Gruev but after stressing the importance of keeping possession where possible, the Whites boss went for his best passer.
And he was rewarded with a technically outstanding performance in the middle of the park from Tanaka, who was central to everything good about Leeds in build-up. According to Fotmob, the Japan international’s 69 touches were second in white only to Gabriel Gudmundsson while 42 accurate passes were bettered only by Pascal Struijk and Ethan Ampadu - that while playing 74 minutes instead of 90.
Tanaka got stuck in when he needed to and was so unfortunate not to score after a front-footed move saw him win possession and skip past Senne Lammens. But it was his quality in possession Leeds needed and that’s exactly what they got. It was arguably the midfielder’s best performance all season.
Leeds United’s improved game-management
The only Leeds concern at half-time was that their lead was just two goals, which sounds incredible to say away at Old Trafford but it really could have been four or five. Martinez’s red card stacked the deck even heavier in their favour but when Calvert-Lewin wasted a free header and then Casemiro levelled, the away end got tense.
Manchester United had nothing to lose at that point and having conceded twice in added-time at West Ham, all of a sudden Leeds had 20-plus minutes to keep it tight. Tanaka’s cramp and a double substitution slowed momentum a little, with introductions Gruev and Willy Gnonto both doing well to manage the game.
No Premier League team has conceded more added-time goals than Leeds this season and while they were a man up, credit is still due for how they managed things. Manchester United’s mega-talented attack were always going to create something but Farke’s side did well to recycle possession and ride out seven minutes of added-time.
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A huge leap towards survival
Three points are always worth the same, no matter the opponent or performance, but some wins just feel bigger and Manchester United on Monday was certainly that. Leeds hadn’t tasted Premier League victory since early February, hadn’t won away since September and went to Old Trafford amid concerns of an injury crisis.
But to a man, they stood tall and were by far the better side on Monday. Leeds created more chances, played nicer football and only ever looked in trouble amid the chaos of the latter stages. Farke was on his knees after full-time and the celebrations in that away end will be remembered for years.
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