Mason Greenwood should not get judged for his goalscoring prowess, said Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer after the boy’s effort ended Brighton’s victory.
The 19-year-old boy scored his first Premier League goal at Old Trafford this season after Paul Pogba‘s volley dropped.
It was the first time in the league since May 2020. It was his sixth goal in 40 games in all competitions this season. A campaign began with him being sent home from the England camp after violating Covid’s guidelines.
“If he gets those goals on, we know he also will add something to his game,” said Solskjaer. He could be without Anthony Martial for the rest of the season due to injury.
“The boy has played very well in the last two or three months, and he has arrived. Suppose he continues to learn and improve. He will get more, and he is a deadly finisher.”
Brighton took the lead when former United striker Danny Welbeck reacted immediately after his first header got saved. Shook his head and moved closer.
However, United has progressed from a critical opening period to a second victory for the first time this season.
Marcus Rashford equalized as he opened his body and rolled the best shot into the corner from Bruno Fernandes‘ brace. Ahead of the Greenwood winner eight minutes from the final.
The result gives United nineteen points in the battle for the top spot. However, West Ham and Everton could reduce that to eight if both win their games on hand.
Henderson gets De Gea’s defeat.
In the end, the game can be more important than what happened before it.
By construction, Solskjaer said both of his goalkeepers would play games before the end of the season.
However, the choice of Dean Henderson to replace David de Gea proved to be significant.
Henderson played in six consecutive games before the international break after De Gea returned to Spain, where his first child was born.
Contrary to Brighton, however, there was no reason why De Gea should get sidelined for any reason other than manager Solskjaer.
It was clear for some time that the current situation was unbearable as the next season began. And now United could have a deceptive problem. Of trying to sell the highest earners when the money for each club got extended.
That said, Henderson has to secure his place.
No charges could be filed against the England international for Welbeck’s goal as he did well to keep the first attempt out.
The demolition of the regular cross soon after – which required Harry Maguire’s intervention to remove the danger – was still a concern.
Henderson was a spectator when Lewis Dunk cut the bar while Brighton tried to increase their lead. But the calm manner he handled the reduced job given to him. Later did not give an apparent reason why Solskjaer should regret his decision.
Welbeck is hurting his old club again.
It has been almost seven years since Welbeck left Old Trafford for Arsenal for a transfer fee of £ 16m.
A series of injuries prevented the 30-year-old from fulfilling a promise. And Welbeck made it in his childhood years at United. But he was a regular nuisance for his former club.
Today’s effort was his fourth goal against them. All but one of them came to this arena.
His reaction to scoring points – the first time Brighton had been at Old Trafford since 1983 – impressed him. And Welbeck was sure he should have got a penalty in the second half when Maguire drove him as he tried to put Brighton ahead again, with the ball rolling over.
Time is running out. It is now Greenwood trying to paint the future of Manchester United and England.
With Martial’s release, Rashford battling a shoulder and knee injury, and Edinson Cavani fighting for form. Greenwood is likely to continue United’s attack in the final weeks of the season.
He shot his first shot at the start of the tournament. And while his six goals this season left 17 years ago. Solskjaer will embrace the confidence he will get from the donation.
De Gea will play for us again Manchester United manager said
Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer told the BBC Sport: “It has been challenging to play for Brighton. We have had good results, and we should have had a hard time. We were able to find a way in the second half.
“Mason Greenwood was mature. Today he was one of our brightest players. He was clean, tidy, and scored. It’s a title within a six-yard box, and that’s what we need from Mason.”
In choosing Henderson to replace De Gea: “I have two great keepers, number one. David de Gea spent some time coming home, and then he had foreign players. So he didn’t play for almost a month. He will play our football again.”
Brighton manager Graham Potter told BBC Sport: “We played well in the game. We took the lead, and it was probably the most threatening team in the first half. We missed that last leg.
“Manchester United responded in the second half without creating many chances.
“When the game was live, I thought like it was a punishment to Welbeck and thought it was a clear and straightforward debate.
“If Mike Dean had donated it. I don’t think VAR would have written it too much. There’s nothing we can do in the end. We’re disappointed to come out empty-handed.”
