United qualify for next round of the Champions League

Manchester United have qualified for the next round of the Champions League following a 2-0 away win against Villarreal. We are on 10 points after five games with the final game at home to Young Boys in two weeks time.

The first half was an edgy affair, with David de Gea pulling off a few great saves, but Michael Carrick’s side were the better team in the second half, especially when Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford replaced Donny van de Beek and Anthony Martial.

Cristiano Ronaldo, unsurprisingly, scored the first goal late on after Fred won the ball back on the edge of the Villarreal area. Ronaldo still had a lot to do but managed to perfectly lift the ball over Gerónimo Rulli in the home goal.

With United topping the group, Jadon Sancho scored the first goal of his United career after great build up play from Scott McTominay, Ronaldo, Rashford and Fernandes. The former Borussia Dortmund man rifled the ball in to the net off the crossbar to get off the mark for United.

It’s hard to believe that the same people who were coaching the team for the defeats against Liverpool, Manchester City and Watford were in charge for this game. There was so much more control and composure, especially in the second half, and United were deserved winners.

The disappointment of last season, with a 1-1 draw and sudden death penalties costing us a trophy under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the final game of the campaign, won’t be erased by the two wins over Unai Emery’s men this season, but at least we have progressed in to the latter stages of the Champions League this season.

In the closing of Solskjaer’s interview with the club, he had faith we would get through.

As I’ve said to them this morning as well, trust yourselves, you know we’re better than this. We’ve not been able to show it but go out, chest out, enjoy being a Man United player, in the Champions League, on the biggest stage. If and when you win the game, you’re through to the next round, Michael is going to be in charge. Michael, I have the utmost respect [for], I love Michael to bits. I’m becoming emotional now because he’s top. They’ll be fine. I’ll watch them and support them.