KING POWER STADIUM — It was the sort of night that puts smiles back on faces, the ideal opposition to facilitate such a boost.
Manchester United head into the international break with a spring in their step thanks to plusses across the board.
Rasmus Hojlund ended his goal drought against Leicester, his first in 22 games – more than 22 hours – breaking the deadlock at Leicester before Alejandro Garnacho followed suit for his first since November.
Then to wrap it up there was Bruno Fernandes, the orchestrator with two assists then scoring a fine third late on with a perfect swing of his right peg.
Sure, it was Leicester, who are now hopelessly nine points adrift of safety, but United’s night was made better by a clean sheet – only their third in the league since the start of December – a debut for 18-year-old Harry Amass, and an impressive display from Ayden Heaven before his injury (he left the King Power with a protective boot).
Despite that one sour note, there were plenty of reasons for United’s travelling support to cheer on this cold Sunday night, and they barely stopped singing all night, undoubtedly buoyed by Liverpool’s Wembley defeat, while there was plenty of affection aimed in Ruben Amorim’s direction – his name chanted for, honestly, perhaps 30 minutes of the 90 across both halves.
“It’s strange,” Amorim said of the adoration. “It gives me a lot of responsibility, but I won’t get carried away, because we know we are so far away from what they expect and what they deserve I just want to win and we are far from what we need to show.”
Nevertheless, United have responded well to going out of the FA Cup, advancing in the Europa League and frustrating second-placed Arsenal last weekend.
“I think the performances are improving,” Amorim added. “When you have some results, you feel better. You start seeing different things, especially today, you can feel a lack of energy but you can feel the team is finding a way to win games even when they are a little more tired.”
For all the positives from the win over Leicester it is difficult to avoid focusing on the most obvious: Fernandes’ input.
Amorim admitted afterwards he was surprised by Fernandes’ work ethic, making clear the United captain’s often theatrical gestures are well-known back in their native Portugal before stressing that defies the player he sees in training.
“What surprises me the most is the way he works every day,” Amorim said. “Even we in Portugal see that frustration, but I was really surprised, he’s a really good professional.
“He’s special in that aspect [playing frequently]. He’s always ready.”
Fernandes leads the way for goals and assists at United this season, and he has only grown in stature as the campaign has rumbled on.
In March, he has contributed towards eight of United’s 10 goals – scoring six and assisting two – and has finally become the leader they have needed in this period of major transition.
It is a welcome sight, the swapping of exasperation for a far more welcome gesture, celebration, and it is lifting the players around him too.
It makes him a clear contender for the bottom half’s player of the season – Bryan Mbeumo at Brentford also stakes a claim – which in itself is a reminder of how far they still have to go, a point not lost on Amorim.
They are down in 13th, in an unwanted face-off with Tottenham, but in Fernandes they have a superstar who could yet carry them to Europa League glory, the back door to the Champions League that would add a mighty gloss on this season.
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