Manchester United’s attack ran riot on Saturday afternoon with four goals scored over the course of the 90-minute clash with Newcastle at Old Trafford.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s return assumed the spotlight as the United legend bagged a brace on his first game back in England since signing from Juventus, but his fellow compatriot also found the net.
Bruno Fernandes arguably scored the best goal of the match, finding the net from 25 yards after a counter-attack was cleverly initiated by David de Gea.
Fernandes was quick to recognise the contribution of his Spanish teammate after scoring, pointing in the direction of his goalkeeper from the other end of the pitch before clapping his hands.
De Gea gestured back in the direction of his teammate with a thumbs up and a signal towards his head, referencing his quick-thinking to start the attacking move.
After the summer that United experienced in the transfer window, it is a ploy that De Gea should use more often in future matches, given the offensive talent on display for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s outfit.
The likes of Jadon Sancho, Luke Shaw, Anthony Martial, Mason Greenwood and Marcus Rashford are all lightning quick, and Ronaldo is hardly slow even though he’ll celebrate his 37th birthday midway through the campaign.
An example of the scenario after De Gea’s kick against Newcastle is shown below, with his teammates immediately presented with an offensive opportunity at the business end of the field.
Solskjaer’s outfit currently lead the Premier League in the direct attacks department with 11 – alongside Wolves and one ahead of Liverpool – with a direct attack defined by Opta as an open-play sequence that starts inside the team’s own half and has at least 50 per cent of movement towards the opposition’s goal, ending in a shot or a touch in the opposition box.
The greatest United sides under Sir Alex Ferguson embraced the art of counter-attacking on a regular basis and Ronaldo was a key part of some of them, notably alongside Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez between 2007 and 2009.
It is a threat that poses a tactical question to the opposition, as it can result in opponents refraining from committing too many players into advanced positions due to the fear of conceding a possible break.
If De Gea continues to showcase the same speed of thought throughout the campaign, the goal that he launched against the Magpies on Saturday will surely not be the last.
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