Christian Eriksen looked up in the pouring Mancunian rain before angling his 19th minute corner low and away from the crowded box. The ball flew on the soaked surface while Raphael Varane, Casemiro and Anthony Martial moved to distract the Nottingham Forest defence.
As they did, Marcus Rashford moved forward into the space which had cleared to the right of the penalty spot, met the ball and swept it first time into the Forest goal to give Manchester United the lead.
It looked simple, but it wasn’t. It was also the work of the training ground move first implemented the previous day. United manager Erik ten Hag, his coaches and analysts had watched Forest’s marking at corners. They saw that the Forest players could be pushed towards the back post, freeing up space near the front post.
“We trained it yesterday,” said Eriksen in answer to a question from The National after the game. “It was planned. We saw that coming and lucky it went a lot better today than it did in training.”
United had tried it twice at Carrington, where it was not as soaked as the Old Trafford pitch.
“It wasn't as wet,” smiled the Dane who didn’t know whether it would come off since “it is always a different opposition". Eriksen credited the idea to "set-piece coach, Eric (Ramsay), I think it’s from him" and was happy that “it came off perfect".
Eriksen described the conditions - so different from the World Cup - as: "Cold, and very wet. It was good! The atmosphere was good, a perfect day to play football.”
The win kept United in fifth, a point behind Tottenham Hotspur but with a game in hand.
“It was the first Premier League game after the World Cup, so obviously to get going again it is important and now of course with a 3-0 win at home it is a good feeling and a good start,” said Eriksen.
"I think the Burnley game [in the League Cup last week] was the same, a bit of getting into it, but I think that game showed we didn't lose anything. Being away from each other and now of course our relationship with the other guys, we came back same set-up, a lot of new defenders coming in, but I think people did well, and I think we reacted very well.”
Manchester United 3-0 Nottingham Forest: Player ratings
-
MANCHESTER UNITED RATINGS: David De Gea – 6. Saved a shot from distance by Freuler after 31 – with his chest. Beaten by a header, which was disallowed by VAR. Double reaction save, the first from Johnson on 70. Another clean sheet. Getty -
Aaron Wan Bissaka – 7. Did well against Burnley last week and deserved his first league start of the season. Deep cross to Rashford on 5. Got up the field well. Encouraging. EPA -
Raphael Varane – 8. Very different conditions to his last game, the World Cup final, but his class told on a soaked pitch. Alert at the start of the second heading away a Johnson cross going towards Awoniyi. Recovered well. His manager applauded him at one point. PA -
Luke Shaw – 7. Illness to other players meant he played at centre half – as was as fine there as he was when he played centrally in a win at Chelsea in 2020. Excellent ball to Rashford in the build-up for the second. Reuters -
Tyrell Malacia – 7. Volleyed a shot which hit the post after 5 and tackled well as Forest probed forward after 12. Another excellent tackle before United’s second goal. Good night for confidence. Booked. Getty -
Casemiro – 9. He wanted to play in England, warts and all – and he got some warts on a filthy night. Controlled the middle. Peerless passing. Chipped an effort which was tipped over on 76. Super interception saw him win the ball to set up Fred for the third. AFP -
Christian Eriksen – 7. Ever inventive, his best contribution was the smartest corner, cut across the box after 18 and assisting the opener. Skied a second half effort. Booked for holding back Yates on 74. Getty -
Antony – 5. The soaked pitch didn’t help his game but he was involved. Often came central. Tried to curl a shot in on 37. Was set up by Fernandes on 56 and should have scored. Hit and miss. End product needs to be better. Reuters -
Bruno Fernandes – 7. Aggressive, assertive and involved as he helped United control the game and never let Forest in. Set up Antony on 56 after controlling a ball from Rashford. Busy. Lobbed a 73rd minute effort from distance as United pushed for a third. AFP -
Marcus Rashford – 8. Fifth-minute shot was blocked, but he broke free of his markers to meet Eriksen’s corner on 19 and put United ahead. Set up the second, cutting back to find Martial. Needs more goals. Tonight helped. He’s on it. AFP -
Anthony Martial – 7. Made it 2-0 on 22, putting the ball through the legs of the opposition’s 22. Another who needs goals. Little by little, but he played, he scored and he didn’t get injured. He’s fitting into Ten Hag’s system. AFP -
SUBS: Alejandro Garnacho (Antony 64’) – 7. A significant improvement on the Brazilian. Early run played in fellow sub Van de Beek. Beat his man on 75 and put the ball across goal. Better than last week. PA -
Donny Van de Beek (Martial 63’) – 6. On to a muted reception, but he played a neat ball to Rashford soon after. Lashed at a shot towards goal on 72. If only one of those would go in for him. AP -
Harry Maguire (Varane 77’) – 6. On for his first football since the World Cup. Shame he wasn’t well enough to start the last two games. EPA -
Fred (Eriksen 77’) – 7. Scored the third – again in front of the Stretford End. Reuters -
Anthony Elanga (Rashford 85’) – 7. Good use of the substitutes from Ten Hag given the vast number of games coming up. Reuters -
NOTTINGHAM FOREST RATINGS: Wayne Hennessey – 4. Nudged Malacia’s shot onto the post but was given no chance by Rashford, then came up with a poor attempt at saving Martial’s tame strike. Made good stops to deny Antony, Martial and Rashford in the second half. Got away with flapping at Eriksen’s cross but saved Casemiro’s attempt before being beaten again by Fred. AP -
Serge Aurier – 4. Showed a lack of awareness to let Rashford behind him and he was then cut inside for the second. He continued to struggle to deal with balls played behind. Had some crosses blocked from promising positions, although one did find Mangala. EPA -
Joe Worrall – 6. Put in a lot of solid defensive work as he did well to reach Wan-Bissaka’s pass ahead of Martial, then blocked Eriksen’s shot moments later. Did well to win the header from Neco Williams’ free-kick, even if nothing came of it. Getty -
Willy Boly – 4. Couldn’t get out to Rashford or Martial quickly enough for the first two goals and was then caught offside when Yates’ header went in off him. There were times where he made things look unnecessarily uncomfortable. AP -
Renan Lodi – 5. Put in some good tackles, but it was too easy for United to create chances from his side and he was outfought by Rashford at the start of a threatening United move. Provided some good set-piece deliveries with one of those setting up the disallowed goal. Reuters -
Ryan Yates – 6. Continued to battle after taking an early knock. Forced De Gea into an awkward save with his venomous shot from range but couldn’t get a clean connection on his header, which went in off Boly and was ruled out for offside. Getty -
Remo Freuler – 5. Blocked Rashford’s shot well but struggled to keep up with United’s midfield on various occasions. His passing varied in quality. Blocked Van de Beek’s shot. Getty -
Orel Mangala – 4. Stood still as Rashford ran off to score the opener, and was booked for holding Rashford’s shirt as he threatened to break forward. Put in a good sliding tackle to stop Fernandes getting a shot off. Hit the side netting after making a good run into the box. Reuters -
Brennan Johnson – 5. After a quiet first half, he showed intent early in the second by beating Malacia and delivering a threatening cross that was headed away by Varane. Almost won the ball back on the edge of United’s box, then had a flick denied. His late cross in a promising position was disappointing. Getty -
Jesse Lingard – 4. Picked up some good positions but often failed to make the most of them with a lack of conviction when opportunities arose, notably playing two poor passes when Brennan Johnson and Taiwo Awoniyi made runs. Went off injured early in the second half. AFP -
Taiwo Awoniyi – 5. A willing runner for his side and carried the ball for long distances but was often isolated and those runs still ended with him losing the ball. Getty -
SUBS: Lewis O’Brien (Lingard 53’) – 5. Worked hard for the team and did well to win a free-kick when surrounded by men in red. Couldn’t reach Emmanuel Dennis’ pass ahead of Casemiro in the build-up to United’s third. Reuters -
Harry Toffolo (Lodi 62’) – 6. Got back to clear Garnacho’s ball into the box and provided some good set-piece deliveries. AP -
Sam Surridge (Awoniyi 62’) – 5. Hit his shot straight at De Gea after playing a good pass earlier in the move and struggled to threaten on many other occasions. AFP -
Emmanuel Dennis (Mangala 63’) – 5. Timed his pass well in the build-up to Johnson’s chance but he played some loose passes, including the one that Casemiro picked off before setting up Fred’s goal. Getty -
Neco Williams (Aurier 74’) – N/R. Easily beaten by Garnacho shortly after coming on and was unable to get back in time to stop Fred scoring United’s third of the game. Reuters
However, the man of the match against Forest was Brazilian Casemiro.
“I think people who watch football and play football, they know he can pass,” said Eriksen. “Obviously, he has come here and really taken the league in his own way. We are happy with that. It is nice playing next to him. He gets you that extra space, if you lose the ball he will get it back, and he is very good on the ball as well."
Marcus Rashford is another in form player and he gave United the lead.
“He played very well, luckily I haven't been on the pitch where he has played a bad game yet,” opined Eriksen. “I let him continue that, he is looking sharp and confident and you can feel that when he is going forward. You feel that in the stadium and you feel that with him and it is a nice thing and I hope he keeps it going. You can see that he came back [from the World Cup] pretty confident.”
After losing two of their opening four home games this season, United are unbeaten at Old Trafford since September and the home form is nine wins, one draw and those two early defeats. United have four forthcoming home fixtures including the Manchester derby on January 14. Eriksen feels that the squad are in a positive place.
“The atmosphere is good, we have a lot of people coming back from the World Cup, the last guys are coming back and everyone is coming together,” he said. “It helps winning games and also before we went away for the World Cup we had a few good games and good wins and it makes it easier to come back and start like this.
“The start of the season is very different compared to now, the football is different now to the beginning, it was a bit hit and miss in some games but I think after that we picked up, we have been building since. You feel that in the group, you feel that the system is working which is something you have to believe in and I think we are doing that.”
Eriksen also talked about departure of Cristiano Ronaldo from Old Trafford, stating that United will move on without the Portuguese.
“First of all we are sad that Ronaldo is not part of it, his legacy and is name at any club is special, for me to be fortunate to play with him in my career was very nice,” said Eriksen. “Football goes on. You feel that the next game after, people will forget what it was like before and now our focus is really like he is not here.”
United next play at Wolves on December 31 and then Bournemouth visit Old Trafford on January 3.
