“We are all enjoying what is happening here,” Erik ten Hag proclaimed in his pre-match programme notes ahead of the visit of Leicester, buoyed by the return of front-foot football at Manchester United this season, a sight that had Barcelona coach Xavi eulogising over after Thursday’s breathless 2-2 draw with Barcelona.
Ten Hag is right to feel very pleased with himself at what he has accomplished in a short time in England. It is the return of the enjoyment factor that is most impressive, with the improvement in results an added bonus.
It took a while for United to get going against the in-form Foxes on Sunday, with some superhuman stops from David de Gea reminding everyone that a goalkeeper is just as important as any fleet-footed crowd pleaser further forward, but once they clicked into gear some of the football on show was electrifying, with the finishing touch applied, of course, by Marcus Rashford.
The England international’s double in the 3-0 victory, which could have easily been a hat-trick, took his tally to 24 for the season, two more than his career best for a season.
Since the World Cup, Rashford has 16 goals in all competitions – six more than any other player across Europe’s major leagues and 12 more than Chelsea have mustered in the same period.
Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, Rashford said: "Overall a good day. They created good opportunities and David made a great save at the end of the first half, without that we can't go on to win the game.
"It's still early in the season, we're fighting for a lot of different things and we have another big game in the week to hopefully go through to the next round of the Europa League and then a massive game for us [against Newcastle in the Carabao Cup final].
"I don't feel like slowing down and always want to improve."
Rashford and United’s Sunday afternoon, however, could have had a very different outcome had it not been for their ever-reliable custodian between the sticks.
The first stop to deny Harvey Barnes early on was nothing short of world-class, clawing the goalbound shot out when the ball was already past him. If anyone else tried to keep such an attempt out, it would have required a hospital visit to pop a shoulder back in afterwards.
Barcelona 2 Manchester United 2 - player ratings
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BARCELONA RATINGS: Marc-Andre ter Stegen – 6 Solid throughout the first half and bailed out his side with a fine one-on-one block from Weghorst, but questions will be rightly asked about his near-post frailty for Rashford’s equaliser. AFP -
Ronald Araujo – 6 Eventful evening for the combative Uruguayan, who had the crowd up on their feet with his robust approach early on, but found himself outwitted more than once and was also fortunate that a penalty area lapse in concentration went unpunished by Sancho. AP -
Jules Kounde – 3 Switched back to a central position and lost Weghorst for big chance of the first half, then played Rashford onside for the forward’s quickfire equaliser. Capped a patchy display by deflecting in United’s second goal from close-range and fortunately avoiding a penalty for fouling Rashford. AP -
Marcos Alonso – 7 Made a crucial early block from Fernandes’ close-range shot. Continued his fine scoring record against United by heading in the opening goal, then made another key block to preserve parity as the visitors hit back. Removed in a triple substitution as Xavi looked to claw his team back into the tie. AP -
Jordi Alba – 6 Heavily involved in the opening exchanges as Barca targeted United’s right flank. Had one surge and shot curtailed by a fine last-ditch Wan-Bissaka block, then returned the favour in the second period when the ball broke to the visiting right-back. Booked for dissent after 30 minutes. EPA -
Frenkie De Jong – 6 A mixed bag from the man United spent all summer tailing. Wonderfully calm in possession, pinged a fine through-ball for Lewandowski which the Pole wasted, but didn’t have enough answers in the defensive side of the midfield battle and often found himself bypassed during the visitors’ period of pressure. PA -
Franck Kessie – 4 Ineffective for long periods, allowing United to gain a foothold in the game. Couldn’t provide an adequate shield for his side’s rejigged defence and it was unsurprising when Xavi hooked him after falling behind. AP -
Raphina – 8 Posed Malacia problems all night and put in a fine defensive shift. Clearly determined to excel and almost broke the deadlock with a sensationally crisp effort just after half-time. Slung in a decent back-post corner for Alonso’s opener, then drew a superb full-length catch from De Gea before levelling with a wicked cross which crept into the far corner. Rightly furious to be substituted. PA -
Pedri – 7 A bright display cruelly curtailed by injury. Fired over with an instinctive volley after Gavi’s inventive lobbed pass and looked a fruitful outlet for the hosts’ attacks before an apparent thigh injury prompted an end to his involvement. Getty -
Gavi – 6 Put Wan-Bissaka in nervy mood early on with his lively, direct running. Not afraid to shirk a challenge and had one miniature skirmish with Fernandes. Booked for yanking back Fred during a second-half United counter and will sit out the second leg as a result. Getty -
Robert Lewandowski – 6 Tested De Gea with a powerful early effort, but passed up a more inviting opening midway through the first period by failing to control De Jong’s incisive ball. Fizzed a decent free-kick just over the bar as the hosts looked to get back in the game. Reuters -
SUBS: Sergi Roberto (Pedri, 41) – 5 Joined in place of the injured Pedri but couldn’t match the youngster’s invention in a low-key display. He was, however, involved in almost winning the first leg late on as the ball ricocheted off De Gea’s upright. Getty -
Andreas Christensen (Marcos Alonso, 67) – 6 Introduced while the hosts were rocking defensively and helped steady the ship. AP -
Ansu Fati (Franck Kessie, 67) – 6 Had one powerful late effort well pawed away by De Gea and had an effort just wide from the edge of the box. Keen to make things happen. Reuters -
Alejandro Balde (Jordi Alba, 67) – 5 Youngster was on the fringes of the game from his introduction, but came alive in injury-time and began causing issues for United. Ferran Torres (Raphinha, 83) – N/A. AFP -
MANCHESTER UNITED RATINGS: David de Gea 7 - Strong near post save from Lewandowski early on. And from Alba on 37 minutes. Busy second half. Will be frustrated to watch Barcelona’s second goal again, but while he didn’t touch it, Lewandowski was a decoy. Saved from Ansu Fati as Barça pushed for a winner. AP -
Aaron Wan-Bissaka 6 - Blocked a dangerous 10th minute ball across, then got forward on the right on 26, beat his man and crossed towards Sancho. Slack collecting a 37th minute ball, which Alba won, but recovered well. Ball went across his arm and Barcelona players appealed for a penalty. Getty -
Raphael Varane 7 - Booed when his name was read out and invoked further jeers when he grappled with Lewandowski. Booked after clipping Gavi, who’d beat him. Watched as a Raphinha effort went past him and Lewandowski into the goal. Could have done better there. AP -
Luke Shaw 7 - Tough night against Lewandowski and Raphinha. Blocked a shot from Pedri and presence was enough to stop Lewandowski attempting a first-half shot. Turned away a De Jong effort after the break. Poor ball out to Casemiro before Barcelona’s second goal. AFP -
Tyrell Malacia 6 - Dangerous down the left at the start and Raphinha struggled to get the better of him, which frustrated home fans. Booked in a game where Barcelona had 18 goal attempts and United had 17. AFP -
Casemiro 8 - Jeered for his association with Real Madrid, he glanced a 29th minute header towards goal. Booked. Lost the ball to Kounde before Barcelona’s second. He was excellent and gave the bullets which helped United’s attackers be so effective, but that was a bad error. Also struck the ball against his own post. Getty -
Bruno Fernandes 7 - Started with intent and a cross towards Fred in the opening seconds. Free-kick in after 29 was met by Casemiro’s head. Backflick across goal led to equaliser. PA -
Wout Weghorst 6 - A surprise as he was selected in a midfield role, which he worked hard at. Important moment came after 27 when he was clear through. Ter Stegen made himself big, but he should have scored. AFP -
Fred 7 - All over the place. Smashed by Kessie in a 28th minute challenge. Alonso got behind him to put the Catalans ahead. He and Gavi – who was booked for pulling him - were two bulls in the same pen. Sent Rashford away to score the second. Confident and shot wide from outside the area on 67 after winning the ball. AFP -
Jadon Sancho 6 - Right position to meet a first half Wan-Bissaka cross, but messed it up on a night when Erik ten Hag said his side should have scored four goals. Cursed himself after shooting wide on 48. Alert and won possession back after 77. EPA -
Marcus Rashford 9 - Lively all first half. A 33rd minute shot was scooped wide by Ter Stegen. Got the equaliser on 53, beating Ter Stegen at the near post. Dribbled along byline to create the second. Appealed for a penalty after being brought down by Kounde. Sliced a shot wide on 80. Getty -
SUB: Alejandro Garnacho 6 - On for Sancho after 81. The headlines were waiting to be written, but the man from Madrid couldn’t win the game in Barcelona. PA
Another superb spring to his right helped De Gea tip Kelechi Iheanacho’s shot around the post. Both Leicester players could not have done more to break the deadlock.
It seemed somewhat inevitable that United would eventually find their rhythm and once they did, there was only going to be one winner.
Bruno Fernandes’ role in the United renaissance has been downplayed, with Rashford’s goalscoring exploits monopolising the headlines. But the simple matter is that when the Portuguese playmaker finds his optimum level, so do his team.
The pass for Rashford’s opener was perfect in its weight and placement, with power doing the rest as Rashford hammered United in front.
All was not completely rosy in Old Trafford as, at the end of a tumultuous week as the club seek a new owner, fans made their feelings known as to who they want to take the reins with some pointed chanting from the terraces – anyone but the Glazer family.
The start of the second half was very different from the first, with United creating all the chances. Lisandro Martinez headed against the crossbar while Rashford should have added a second after darting inside and firing too close to the goalkeeper.
United and Rashford did not have to wait long for the goal that effectively killed off any Leicester hope of getting anything from the encounter. Another drilled Rashford finish was initially ruled out for offside but not even VAR can stop the 25-year-old scoring at the moment, as he slotted home 11 minutes after the break.
United saved the best for last as Jadon Sancho stepped off the bench, played a sumptuous one-two with Fernandes, and stroked the ball home in the blink of an eye, lifting the roof off Old Trafford, which once again had been well and truly entertained.
The mouthwatering matches continue later this week as Barcelona come to Manchester for the second leg of their Europa League play-off tie, which, if it is anything like the first encounter, will never see supporters stray far from the edge of their seats.
No matter who the opponent, however, few can live with the United entertainers firmly on the path to a brighter future.
