Leicester vs Man Utd player ratings: Sancho reborn under Ten Hag, Rashford sharp but not as a No 9
Leicester City 0-1 Manchester United (Sancho 23′)
Manchester United continued their resurgence under Erik ten Hag after winning a third straight match to move up to fifth in the Premier League table, while Leicester remain rooted to the bottom with just one point from their opening five games.
Jadon Sancho scored the game’s only goal on Thursday night, a week on from netting against Liverpool, while David de Gea thwarted Leicester on a couple of occasions.
And with the transfer window closing, Ten Hag will have been delighted to cap off deadline day with three points, adding to the newfound feel-good factor at United after Antony was confirmed earlier in the day.
Just as Leicester were enjoying a bright spell, United broke the deadlock, with Sancho rounding Danny Ward midway through the first half for his second goal of the campaign.
It was a gift from Leicester, with manager Brendan Rodgers left shaking his head at the space afforded to United’s attackers, while it quietened the home crowd just as the optimism was growing.
Leicester were unable to truly test David de Gea before half-time, while both Sancho and Marcus Rashford continued to shine.
Against Leicester, several moments felt decisive. Jadon Sancho’s run, touch, composure and subsequent easy finish are obvious candidates, not least because he is quickly becoming the breakout star of Ten Hag’s earliest months.
At his best, Sancho has a fluidity to everything he does that increases your concentration in what he is doing, like switching from a standard definition television to Ultra HD.
Diogo Dalot and Lisandro Martinez react to Man Utd’s win (Photo: Reuters)
Just as important was a six-second passing routine that could have been plucked from Ten Hag’s blueprint: De Gea to Martinez to Malacia to Martinez to Fernandes. United – and De Gea in particular – have often shunned that short passing in favour of the safer, more direct approach. But over time, they must learn to trust Ten Hag and themselves.
And then came the dirty work. For all the succour Ten Hag and those who packed the away end will take from a third consecutive league win – the first time that has happened in 2022 – this was not classic fare.
Sancho in particular is looking a cut above the player that joined last season, epitomising what confidence can do, while also benefitting from a manager who simply trusts him and plays him in his strongest position.
Rashford, meanwhile, was arguably at his best when drifting out wide, and with United not signing a new No 9 this transfer window, it remains to be seen whether Erik ten Hag will stick with the England forward down the middle or eventually revert to Cristiano Ronaldo.
There were occasions where Rashford lacked the clinical touch that Ronaldo undoubtedly possesses, and it became clear as United struggled to pull clear against a Leicester side who were much improved in the second half.
United were forced to dig deep, picking up four bookings before the hour-mark, by which point a terrific De Gea save had denied James Maddision’s top-corner bound free-kick.
In the latter stages, Ronaldo gave United fresh impetus up front, but an overhead kick sailed just wide from the forward with a point to prove.
Meanwhile, United’s defence held firm, claiming a well-earned clean sheet and showing a hardy togetherness that has been somewhat lacking in recent years – to say the least.
Leicester player ratings
Danny Ward: Easily rounded by Sancho for the opening goal, but only made two simple saves otherwise. 6/10
James Justin: Showed endeavour down the right but had to combine that with marking the energetic Sancho. Fluffed a huge late chance. 5/10
Wilfred Ndidi: Partnered Evans, and though competent that signals Leicester’s downfall with Fofana gone. 6/10
Jonny Evans: Commanded Leicester’s back line and actually had a quiet second half with Leicester mainly on the attack. 7/10
Rodgers: The group needed new faces
While Kasper Schmeichel and Wesley Fofana were among Leicester’s departures, the Foxes signed Reims defender Wout Faes on deadline day, their first outfield signing of the summer, and a quiet window that has defined their opening month could yet dictate the entire campaign after Brendan Rodgers admitted to a “difficult” situation.
“There’s no doubt it has been a really challenging summer,” the Leicester boss told BT Sport ahead of the game. “Even when you’re successful you need fresh faces in this competition. We’ve been unable to do any work [in the transfer market] and it’s been very frustrating, but from tonight onwards our goal is to win games.
'It's been a really challenging summer'
Brendan Rodgers sheds some light on what has been a tough summer transfer window for Leicester. pic.twitter.com/cDjgvENeix
“It’s difficult. We spoke to some players over the summer, hoping we could bring in new faces because this group needs it. You always need to provide competition. When I came back [for pre-season], that’s when I knew.
“It was then a case of hoping we could get something but unfortunately that was going to be the case.”
Luke Thomas: An easier night than Justin given Elanga was ineffective. Allowed him to link-up with Barnes, but Dalot had their number. 6/10
Boubakary Soumare: Busy night for the man screening Leicester’s defence, and he put in some heavy tackles in an attempt to gee up the crowd. 6/10
James Maddison: Back from injury, was involved in majority of Leicester’s attacks but often lacked a cutting edge. Goalbound free-kick forced De Gea into a quality save. 6/10
Youri Tielemans: Going nowhere, despite talk of a transfer all summer, it was a quiet evening for Leicester’s No 8 when they really needed a bigger shift from him. 5/10
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall: Tested De Gea with a first-half free-kick but sloppy play on a couple of occasions stopped Leicester in their tracks. 6/10
Harvey Barnes: Almost flashed an equaliser in from nowhere, narrowly missing the top corner. Showed more intent than his team-mates. 6/10
Jamie Vardy: Chasing a first league goal of the season, made plenty of runs in-behind but was rarely found and endured a difficult night overall. 5/10
Have United done enough? Goodness only knows. The large number of exits from the first team were both necessary – too many highly-paid fringe players – but they also leave a squad that is light on general numbers and has players congregated in one or two positions: centre-back and wide forward.
Elsewhere there are obvious gaps: Do United have a goalscoring centre forward that fits Ten Hag’s style? A lot will depend on Bruno Fernandes’ ability to both exist as United elite creator and goalscorer rolled into one.
Ronaldo is the elephant in the room. He has made no secret of his desire to leave and, for all Ten Hag’s insistence that Ronaldo is part of his plans, it would be preferable if an exit had been engineered.
Ronaldo can still score goals; nobody doubts that. But his presence in the attacking press and as a disruptor of the morale in the squad make it mighty difficult to predict a happy ending.
Read Daniel Storey’s full analysis of Man Utd’s transfer window here
Man Utd player ratings
David de Gea: Just the one simple save to make in the first half, and then flew across goal to keep out Maddison’s free-kick in the second half. 7/10
Diogo Dalot: An early booking meant Dalot had to be careful, but he continued to thwart Barnes and celebrated a block like it was a match-winning goal in the second half. 7/10
Lisandro Martinez: Continues to impress at centre-back with his positioning a real strong point. Picked up a booking when stopping Dewsbury-Hall from continuing a dangerous attack, but that was the only blot on his performance. 7/10
Raphael Varane: Barely a moment of note throughout the match – bar getting away with a foul on Maddison – but a centre-back will take that with a clean sheet secured. 6/10
Tyrell Malacia: Linked up well with Sancho but like his fellow full-back had to tread carefully after a first-half yellow. 7/10
Scott McTominay: With Casemiro watching on from the bench, it was a solid shift from McTominay on the whole. 7/10
Christian Eriksen: Sharp passing from the off kick-started many a United attack, but was quieted when moved to a more advanced role in the second half given Leicester were on top. 7/10
Anthony Elanga: The quietest member of United’s front four, bad timing with Antony unveiled on deadline day. May struggle for game-time going forward. 4/10
Bruno Fernandes: Enjoyed a decent connection with both Sancho and Rashford, never quite fell for him in terms of opportunities, though. 7/10
Jadon Sancho: Did brilliantly to hover in an offside position until getting onside just in time to receive Rashford’s through ball for the opening goal. A livewire throughout before coming off for Ronaldo with 25 minutes to go. 8/10
Marcus Rashford: Started strongly with decent hold-up play and threading through the assist for Sancho, but was lacking as a goal threat himself, with his touch letting him down on a couple of occasions. 7/10
Subs: Casemiro. 6/10. Cristiano Ronaldo 7/10. Fred n/a.
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'It's been a really challenging summer'
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