The Red Devils' captain was at his best in solid defensive display as Sir Alex Ferguson's side recorded a 1-0 victory over Everton at Goodison Park on Saturday
Six days after their crushing 6-1 defeat in the Manchester derby, a close range strike from Javier Hernandez in the 19th minute secured United a 1-0 win over Everton.
The early-season swagger with which they dispatched opponents was long forgotten, the new message drilled home that United will not win the Premier League this season unless they improve defensively on their casual performances in the last six weeks.
Questions have been asked and faults analysed since the noisy neighbours ran riot at Old Trafford. Every United supporter had their own answer; Sir Alex delivered his as the title holders produced their most disciplined defensive display of the season.
At its heart was Nemanja Vidic, a man mountain has he strained every muscle to repel Everton's attacks. If the hosts looked toothless, it was because United were determined not to allow them time and space, because the visitors kept their concentration throughout the 90 minutes and were superbly organised by their captain.
“It was a fantastic performance by Vidic,” reflected his delighted manager after the game. “Every ball that came into our box he got it clear and that’s his speciality.”
Man of steel | Vidic's returned to offer Sir Alex & United a much needed captain's performance
The priority for United was, quite clearly, to make sure they kept solid at the back, with Wayne Rooney dropping into a five men midfield that often left lone striker Hernandez isolated up front.
Vidic was the key. The Serbian centre-back responding in the best manner possible to his omission from the derby, further proving his commitment to United after “reluctantly” announcing his retirement from international football earlier this week.
Ferguson was reportedly upset with his captain when Vidic opted to play for Serbia earlier this month after missing two months with a calf injury and the 30-year-old admitted he sometimes defied orders from his club to play for his national team.
Had Vidic played against City, maybe things would have been different. He certainly brought the best out of Jonny Evans, who produced a solid performance against Louis Saha to go some way to making up for his dismissal a week earlier.
Vidic was not the only player to make a difference on his return to the side. Tom Cleverley made his first league start since picking up a foot injury in August against Bolton and controlled the midfield for the 55 minutes he was on the pitch. It was no coincidence that United lost the initiative after he was substituted as a precaution.
Cleverley's intelligent understanding of the play and his incisive passing helped United play with rhythm in the first-half. It was no surprise that the England under-21 international was involved in the build-up to Hernandez's strike.
It was the only clear cut chance United created all game, but it fell to exactly the right man. The Mexican – another player who missed out on a starting place in the derby – used his predatory instincts to convert Patrice Evra's cross from inside the six-yard box.
It was a fitting way for Chicharito to celebrate his new five-year contract and get United back on track with a result that leaves them in second place in the Premier League after 10 games, five points behind City but four ahead of third-placed Chelsea.
Everton rarely looked like getting an equaliser and struggled to break down United's resilient defence despite dominating territory and possession late on. The closest the Toffees came was through a Leighton Baines free-kick four minutes before half-time which rattled off the crossbar.
But they were largely reduced to potshots from long-range against United's seventh different defensive combination in only their tenth league match of the season.
Vidic was at his very best. He won virtually every header, he intercepted passes, blocked shots and anticipated danger with confidence and character.
If Sir Alex is embarking on a mini rebuilding project, then he has got the right idea basing it around his captain.
No comments:
Post a Comment