So, Manchester United returned to winning ways in the Champions League.
Here are five things that stood out from their victory over Wolfsburg…
Chris Smalling is morphing into Franz Beckenbauer
In fairness, this isn’t something we’ve learned exclusively from the Wolfsburg game – it’s something that became apparent during the second half of last season. Smalling is blossoming into a fine centre-half.
He might have scored the winner, but at the back he seemed composed and was a leader in an unsettled defensive line. The days of him smashing five-yard passes at Phil Jones’ face appear to be well behind him.
Antonio Valencia is definitely not a right back…or a right winger
After smashing cross after cross into the shins of opposing full backs for a few seasons, Louis van Gaal brought an end to Valencia’s time as a right winger and made him United’s right-back for much of last year.
Although his effort towards the United cause can’t be faulted, the bloke’s woeful sense of positioning was highlighted on a number of occasions in the first-half against Wolfsburg.
Continuing to play him there could well cost United as they head into a difficult run of fixtures.
Anthony Martial’s mere presence is an asset
His goal-laden start to life at Old Trafford has seen opinions on Martial change. From being nothing more than an over-priced David Bellion, some will now have you believe he’s Thierry Henry but three times as good.
He wasn’t as involved in the second-half against the Germans, but his mere presence worried the Wolfsburg defence. Especially in difficult away games in Europe, Martial’s pace will be a huge asset as teams simply can’t afford to leave too much space in behind.
Juan Mata deserves a go at number 10
Juan Mata, yet again, impressed. He won and scored the penalty and flicked on the ball that allowed Chris Smalling to score the winner. In the second-half Mata was one of few United players who managed to keep the ball.
Although not blessed with great pace, his intelligence and craft were there for all to see once again. As Wayne Rooney struggles once again playing off the main striker, Louis van Gaal must surely be considering deploying the Spaniard in a more central role.
Morgan Schneiderlin isn’t quite up to speed yet
When he signed for United, it’s safe to say that nobody expected the Frenchman to make the sort of lung-bursting, box-to-box runs that Roy Keane or Bryan Robson once made. He was bought to anchor the midfield and provide a bit of extra cover for a still-porous defence.
Yet his perfromance against Wolfsburg showed that he’s not yet up to pace. Aside from failing to get close enough to several of the German side’s midfield, when he did, he picked up a yellow.
Late on, he could’ve been given a second from a referee who seemed happy enough to flash the cards to remind folk he was there. His passing was wayward on more than one occasion.
Perhaps being one of two deep-lying midfielders isn’t helping Schneiderlin settle into life at Old Trafford as quickly as some might have expected.
