Manchester United solidified their Champions League qualification hopes in the Premier League table with a lone goal away win over Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday.
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| Casemiro’s acrobatic goal vs Neto |
From the opening whistle, United made it clear that they wanted to head back to Manchester with 3 points, and as such, they made a flurry of attacks that kept the Cherries at bay and on their toes. So it wasn't at all surprising when Casemiro smashed an acrobatic effort from a deflected Christian Eriksen pass into Neto’s goal in the 9th minute.
Erik ten Haag already had an attacking dilemma on his hands, with United’s attackers firing blanks of recent and their best goalscorer—Marcus Rashford—missing the game due to illness, so it was a big relief for his team to get an early goal in the game which they needed to win.
Manchester United maintained their attacking threat up until the half-hour mark, whereupon Bournemouth; who had slowly regained their composure, grew into the game, forcing some saves from David De Gea. The Red Devils’ evident lack of control was having great effects as the fluidity they possessed in attack at the start of the game slowly dwindled.
But they succeeded in ending the first half with their lead intact, thanks to De Gea’s renowned shot-stopping abilities as well as some great positioning and leadership from Varane, Lindelof, and Casemiro.
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| De Gea made a lot of crucial saves to keep it at 1-0 |
The second half continued with no changes from both teams, and Bournemouth remained on the front foot, until the 57th-minute introduction of Wout Weghorst for a fairly above average Anthony Martial.
The Dutchman's tenacity and linkup play allowed United to reassert some control again, as well make some more attempted at goal. But just like with the first half, United gradually ceded control to Bournemouth as the game went on.
In the end, David De Gea’s heroics and some good defending were enough to protect Casemiro’s goal and ensure United got the win while De Gea outrightly clinched the Premier League Golden Glove award, as the shutout was his 17th cleansheet in the league.
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| Varane kept another shutout with Lindelof |
The win at the Vitality Stadium meant that with Liverpool's draw at home to Aston Villa, Erik ten Haag’s Manchester United team need just a single point from their last two games (both against London boys—Chelsea and Fulham—at Old Trafford) to secure Champions League qualification.
This goes to say that Erik ten Haag has do!e immensely well in his first season as United manager, clinching their first trophy since 7 years, reaching two finals, as well as gaining Champions League football after inheriting a broken squad that merely managed to qualify for Europa League last season and a transfer kitty of £200-odd million.