How Manchester United beat Newcastle 3-2 to keep European football hopes alive – The Athletic – The New York Times
EPL
Advertisement
Subscribe to The Athletic now using our latest discount offer.
GO FURTHER
Manchester United 3-2 Newcastle United: Ten Hag’s side bounce back, Amad and Gordon shine
Focus has already switched to the final day of the Premier League season which comes your way on Sunday.
And we will bring you live coverage of updates from all 10 matches — with a heavy focus on the title challenge between Manchester City and Arsenal.
The final fixture list of the campaign looks like this:
All matches start at 4pm BST/11am ET/8am PT
Advertisement
Getty Images
Howe continued on his side's poor defending, claiming that two goals at Old Trafford should lead to at least a draw.
"We looked good going forward, we created chances but we probably didn't get enough bodies in the box in the key moments," he said. "The goalkeeper made some saves, the woodwork denied us in the second half. But we scored two goals and that should be enough to get something from the game."
A clearly very annoyed Eddie Howe spoke about his side's demise when it comes to defending their own goal.
"We had chances to do more, but the way we defended the three goals wasn’t good enough," he told Sky Sports. "This season compared to last, that's probably been the biggest difference.
"We've conceded goals similar to the type we did today, which is uncharacteristic for us. It's something we have to change longer term going into next year."
Getty Images
While Manchester United need to shore up their defence next season, Newcastle will need to improve their away record.
With one final away game left, Newcastle are staring at a record of five wins, two draws and 11 losses in the Premier League this season.
To put that into context, last season their away record in the PL was eight wins, eight draws and just three losses.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the divide, there are some pretty unhappy Newcastle fans in our matchday discussion.
Robert D: If we don't win the final game then Howe needs to start looking for a new job. The magic is gone, and he can no longer get them ready for big games. It's not like this MU is a juggernaut form years past…. they are pretty ordinary.
Daniel K: Why start Trippier if he’s only fit enough to play 60 mins? Why have Pope on the bench if he’s not fit enough to start?
WHY can’t we turn up in the big games?
Tom S: That was absolutely putrid, we well and truly bottled it tonight. Can’t see us winning at Brentford, either. The squandering of numerous chances tonight is unforgivable. We have a mentality problem when it comes to the ‘THE’ biggest games, the ones that really matter, e.g., tonight, Milan at home, League Cup final last season, I just don’t think we have it in us. We made a heavily ridiculed centre-back pairing look respectable tonight. Utterly rotten.
Some very happy Man United supporters in our matchday discussion (which you can find here), although some are not letting today's victory paper over the very obvious cracks.
Jonathan M: What a result. Absolutely buzzing. A bit hairy at times in that second half but a win is a win.
Jesse K: Top effort today, finally we matched them physically & mentally. Love it.
Richard S: I find it hard to disguise how angry and disappointed I’ve been this season but at least they’ve signed off from Old Trafford with a win and much improved performance. Can’t see any realistic route to European qualification if I’m being honest though and that should have ramifications for this club. A long summer awaits and I’m not sure Ten Hag will or should survive it.
Advertisement
Getty Images
Despite winning tonight, Manchester United will know that they have to improve their defence next season.
They have now conceded 58 goals in the Premier League in 2023-24. The last league season in which they conceded more was all the way back in 1978-79.
Gordon is clearly not the only person disillusioned by the use of VAR in the Premier League.
The Athletic's David Ornstein revealed earlier that clubs will vote on potentially scrapping the technology ahead of next season, as you can see below.
"Either get rid of it, or make it better" was Gordon's parting comment on VAR which is very hard to disagree with.
GO FURTHER
Premier League clubs to vote on scrapping VAR from next season
Gordon can certainly count himself unlucky not to have been awarded a first-half penalty after he was clipped by Amrabat on his way towards goal. It was a decision he has been left confused by.
"I'm really sore, I'm not sure how good my ankle will be," said the Newcastle forward. "I've watched the incident back, it's a clear penalty.
"I don't mind the referee getting it wrong on the pitch because it's a difficult decision, it's happened really quickly. But I don't understand what the point of VAR is because it's there to correct mistakes. (Amrabat) goes down my Achilles and pushes me in the back. Casemiro comes and gets the ball but there are two fouls before.
"I honestly don't see the point of it."
It hasn't been quite the season many Newcastle fans were expecting, but Gordon has been fantastic and is undoubtedly their player of the season. He spoke to Sky Sports after the match.
"I thought we played alright," he said. "Defensively, away from home, we've been poor and we've conceded too many sloppy goals, so we have to fix that.
"I don't know if it's a mentality thing but we certainly have to get better in that area. I thought we created a lot, but we just didn't take our chances enough."
Getty Images
Things may not have gone the way Manchester United fans were hoping this season, but they do have reason to look to the future with optimism.
Kobbie Mainoo’s goal in the first half tonight was the 10th to have been scored by a teenager for the club in the Premier League this season – three by him and seven by Alejandro Garnacho.
Their other two goalscorers tonight aren't elderly citizens either, both Amad Diallo and Rasmus Hojlund being 21 years old.
Advertisement
Getty Images
That was Amad's first Premier League goal in his 11th game in the competition.
And it put the rubber stamp on another top-drawer performance from the 21-year-old who also stood out in the 1-0 defeat to Arsenal on Sunday.
Although, it does beg the question: Why has he not featured more this season?
Tonight's win extends Man United's brilliant run against Newcastle.
They have lost just one of their 29 Premier League home games against Newcastle — won 19 and drawn nine — while they have scored more goals against them at Old Trafford (66) than against any other opponent.
The Athletic's Mark Critchley and Chris Waugh have analysed the main talking points from Old Trafford, starting with what this result means for both teams.
They have also broken down the performances of Amad Diallo and Anthony Gordon, two of the key figures in this match.
Follow the link below to check out their analysis!
GO FURTHER
Manchester United 3-2 Newcastle United: Ten Hag’s side bounce back, Amad and Gordon shine
Getty Images
And Chelsea have put themselves in that strong position after a 2-1 win against Brighton at the Amex.
Cole Palmer and Christopher Nkunku scored their goals before a late sending off for Reece James and a consolation goal from Danny Welbeck, who were unable to find an equaliser.
The win moves Chelsea onto 60 points in sixth place. Man United and Newcastle will both go into the final day trailing Chelsea by three points, though due to goal differential, only Newcastle have a chance of overtaking them.
Meanwhile, as that was James' second red card of the season, he will face a four-match ban; missing Sunday's game and the first three league games of next season.
Heading into the final day of the Premier League season on Sunday, here are the simplest ways the four teams between fifth and eighth place in the table can secure European football for next season.
5. Tottenham: Guaranteed Europa League with a win or draw at Sheffield United on Sunday
6. Chelsea: Guaranteed European football with a win or draw against Bournemouth
7. Newcastle: Virtually guaranteed European football with a win at Brentford and a Chelsea defeat
8. Manchester United: Guaranteed European football with a win at Brighton and a Newcastle defeat or loss
Advertisement
A rather strange address to the fans, I must say, but a heartfelt one from Ten Hag.
"On behalf of the players, staff and myself I want to thank you all for the brilliant support during the season," he said. "As you know, it wasn't an easy season but one thing remained constant and that was the begging of you for the team.
"The season is not over yet. First, we travel to Brighton (on Sunday) where we go for three points and then we go to Wembley. And I promise you that those players will give everything to win the cup and bring it to Old Trafford."
Getty Images
As this is the last home game of the season for Man United, Erik ten Hag has taken the microphone and will address the fans inside Old Trafford.
Getty Images
Fernandes was lauded for his performance as the club captain at full time.
"A captain's performance doesn't exist. It's a team performance with players that have to do the best for the team," he said on Sky Sports. "I'm not different to anyone because I have the (captain's) armband.
"The armband doesn't give you the responsibility of doing better performances, you do that from the chest. I always do my best, I know my team-mates always try their best.
"No one hides (from the fact that) we play for a big club and we have to lift our standards every game."
