Harry Maguire’s last-gasp header dragged a hugely underwhelming Manchester United into the FA Cup fifth round. Ruben Amorim’s side limped to a 2-1 victory over Premier League strugglers Leicester at Old Trafford.
United found themselves 1-0 down against an under-strength Leicester side, trailing thanks to Bobby Decordova-Reid’s close-range header.
Amorim will face further questions for some eyebrow-raising selection decisions but the half-time introduction of Alejandro Garnacho changed the game. The Argentina winger assisted Joshua Zirkzee’s equaliser with a driving run and cross.
Maguire headed home in added-time to prevent an additional 30 minutes, although VAR would have ruled out the goal had the technology been in operation.
Here is how Express Sport rated United’s players…
Andre Onana – 4
Onana’s weak save with his legs was easily rebounded into the net by Decordova-Reid. The goalkeeper is just one of a number of players who United have wasted money on over the last few years.
Leny Yoro – 4
It was the 19-year-old Yoro who was playing Decordova-Reid onside. The defender might have been better served spending another year in a more stable environment at Lille instead of being thrust into this shambles of a United team.
Harry Maguire – 4
Maguire might have scored the winner – notable from an offside position – but the fact remains that he was the experienced head and central figure in a United back three which really, really struggled.
Noussair Mazraoui – 3
It remains unclear why Erik ten Hag was so desperate to bring Mazraoui to Old Trafford. In fairness, playing in a different position across United’s back five each game must be unsettling. But an embarrassing foul throw in the second half summed up his short United career.
Patrick Dorgu – 4
Amorim provided quite the confidence boost to his new signing by playing him out of position at right-wing-back before hauling him off at half-time. Dorgu was signed based on his performances at left-wing-back for Lecce – why on earth he started on the right remains a mystery.
Manuel Ugarte – 4
Ugarte lost possession too easily in the build-up to Leicester’s goal. At least the Uruguayan showed some aggression to win the ball on occasion as Leicester’s second-string zipped the ball around Old Trafford in the first half. The same cannot be said for many of his team-mates.
A two-footed stamp in the second half might have earned more than a yellow card on another occasion.
Bruno Fernandes – 5
United’s most creative player and perhaps their best finisher has spent much of the last few weeks collecting the ball from United’s back three in deep positions. Fernandes should be so much higher up the pitch and when given the opportunity to delivery a top-class set-piece, he found Maguire in the last minute.
Diogo Dalot – 4
Dalot has struggled to progress the ball at left-wing-back this season, so the Portuguese defender might have been keen to switch to his more natural right side when he learned of Dorgu’s arrival last Sunday. For reasons only Amorim can explain, that was not the case. Dalot’s struggles continued.
Amad Diallo – 6
Amad was the best of United’s starters, only to get thrown back to right-wing-back for the second half. Just like Fernandes, the 22-year-old needs to be closer to goal.
Kobbie Mainoo – 5
Mainoo might have performed well as a No. 10 against Romania’s fourth-placed club, FCSB, but the 19-year-old is, always has been, and always will be, a central midfielder. He lasted 64 minutes before being replaced by Zirkzee and surely won’t be seen in a front three again.
Rasmus Hojlund – 3
Hojlund touched the ball 18 times in the initial 90 minutes. By comparison, Leicester centre-forward Patson Daka saw the ball on 42 occasions before being taken off in the 81st minute. The Foxes’ goalkeeper, Mads Hermansen, had 45 touches. Hojlund is going through a difficult spell but must also help himself rekindle his form.
Substitutes
Alejandro Garnacho – 7
It was a damning indictment of United’s situation that the player introduced to save the day was the same one being touted around Europe in the hope his sale would raise funds for a late January spree. Garnacho took the game to Leicester, forcing an outstanding goal-line block before setting up Zirkzee’s equaliser.
He showed why a sale to Chelsea or Napoli would have been instantly regretted at Old Trafford.
Joshua Zirkzee – 6
Zirkzee has had a tough time at United but a tidy finish to equalise will be a nice confidence boost. Whether or not he was worth spending £34m on in the summer remains a valid question.
