Manchester United 3-2 Southampton: Seven Things

United lift the cup – dailystar.co.uk

A Zlatan Ibrahimovic brace helped Manchester United lift the EFL Cup with a fortuitous 3-2 victory over Southampton – but what have we learned from the final?

Southampton threatened down the left

Once Ryan Bertrand’s cross caused a moment of indecision in United’s back-line in the opening exchanges, it seemed that would be Southampton’s main strength. The left-back got superbly in the first half, helped by Juan Mata’s reluctance to track back and Antonio Valencia’s questionable positioning. Bertrand switched the ball to fellow full-back Cedric Soares on ten minutes and Manolas Gabbiadini tapped home, only for the goal to be ruled out.

United goals came out of the Red

Oriol Romeu has been outstanding this season, but on Saturday he was partly responsible for two of United’s goals in a first half Southampton dominated. He was yellow-carded for a foul on Ander Herrera before Zlatan Ibrahimovic curled in the resultant free-kick, which Fraser Forster might have got a hand too. After a rare passing move from the Red Devils, Romeu then failed to track Jesse Lingard who slotted home following Marcos Rojo’s lay-off. The game could have been all over for Southampton had the referee deemed Jack Stephens’ studded challenge on Anthony Martial worthy of a red card, but the young centre-back escaped with a caution.

Ward-Prowse’s clever movement

James Ward-Prowse put some quality crosses in while Nathan Redmond saw one or two efforts deflected behind and both made clever inward runs from wide areas. Dusan Tadic orchestrated attacks and David De Gea required his feet to unconventially save on 32 minutes. The aforementioned trio were given a lot of space, partly due to a disconnect between United’s defence and midfield, the double-pivot of Herrera and Paul Pogba lacking defensive diligence.

Predatory Gabbiadini

Ward-Prowse took advantage of United’s weaknesses before the break, squaring for Gabbiadini to tuck the ball between De Gea’s legs at the near post. Not dissimilar to Kevin Phillips, the Italian had an apparent ‘smell’ for close-range opportunities that was evident in both of his goals. The Saints started the second half superbly and when the ball came to Gabbiadini on 49 minutes, he turned and fired the ball back in the opposite direction into the bottom corner in one motion. After his strike, it appeared as though momentum would favour Southampton.

United slowly gained control

Instead, Jose Mourinho’s side took the sting out of the game with longer spells of possession, helped by the composure of half-time substitute Michael Carrick. Antonio Valencia had to make one important clearance at the back-post, the resultant corner seeing Romeu hitting the bar with a header. Otherwise, United had more control as Pogba grew in influence while Jesse Lingard had a busy period prior to his 77th minute exit. Martial went on a threatening run to set up the academy graduate, who was denied by a firm challenge by Maya Yoshida, before later firing over from close range.

Zlatan the hero

The hero of the hour was to be Ibrahimovic, who headed out Stephens’ effort before scoring the winner, heading in Herrera’s perfectly weighted cross. The Swede’s goal meant heart-break for Southampton, who deserved to at least force extra time. Claude Puel did not get to lift his first trophy as Saints boss but he can take encouragement from an energetic, dynamic performance that further unified the club with its fans.

Another cup for Jose

Mourinho has now lifted the trophy in four of his last six seasons in England, though his subdued post-match demeanour suggested some discontent with the performance. In the Portuguese’s first two stints at Chelsea, victory in this competition preceded a league title – Manchester United hope it is a similar stepping stone to greater things.