Some, but not many, expected Manchester United to do to Cardiff City what Godzilla regularly does to Tokyo. However, with hindsight, Saturday’s 5-1 rout could have easily been anticipated. After all, a massive weight was just emotionally lifted off the team this week with the sacking of Jose Mourinho.
When he was let go, the mood amongst the players was reportedly more celebratory; not somber. And they handled the Blue Birds like a team that was playing with true emotional liberated. Caretaker manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer began his interim stint with some free-flowing, high octane football.
It only took four minutes to get on the scoreboard, as Marcus Rashford found the back of the net shortly after kick-off. Ander Herrera scored 29′ before the hosts cut the deficit to one. However, as half time neared Anthony Martial slotted home this beautiful finish.
Seriously, watch this gorgeous display of attacking football (from a couple different angles), with Martial providing the sublime finish.
https://twitter.com/UnitedGIF/status/1076544979709947906
Anthony Martial’s goal ??
https://t.co/s8noxkp4M0— DILLINGER ? (@DillanMUFC) December 22, 2018
Jesse Lingard provided a brace in the second half to complete the scoring. And what a great performance this was for the Englishman too; given the type of season he’s been having. And what a wonderful day for the fans, who have been long suffering.
“We’ll take one game at a time but we’re eight points behind and we’ve caught up teams before at this club,” Solskjaer said at his post match news conference.
“Now, though, we’ve got to catch up a couple [of teams], but our job is to take one game at a time.
“Don’t look too far ahead but we always play well in [the] second half of the season. Man United teams always do.”
“When you’ve got Martial and Jesse Lingard down either side, Rashford up top with Paul [Pogba] supporting them, it’s exhilarating to watch and as long as we keep that standard up we’ll keep picking up points,” he added.
?? Free-flowing football
? Rashford, Herrera and Martial all scoring worldies.
?? @PaulPogba assisting goals.
? Away fans in full voice.
? Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's @ManUtd. ? pic.twitter.com/YDckLdrvAe
— SPORF (@Sporf) December 22, 2018
Regarding Pogba, he didn’t score, but he did rack up three assists.
What’s perhaps most amazing though is how Solskjaer only had one training session so far with this side and yet it yielded results like this. Maybe Mourinho was the issue all along?
Maybe Solskjaer should be strongly considered for the permanent manager gig?
Mourinho watching tonight's game…#CARMUN pic.twitter.com/6lY3KpTJuK
— Paddy Power (@paddypower) December 22, 2018
Solskjaer is right in believing this team could make the top four.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, regularly appears as a guest pundit on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
He also contributes sociopolitical essays to Chicago Now. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram. The content of his cat’s Instagram account is unquestionably superior to his.