Manchester United 1-0 Young Boys: Five Match Discussion Points | Football News

United has qualified for the last 16 of the Champions League

Marouane Fellaini's goal against Young Boys allowed Manchester United to win 1-0 at Old Trafford and secure their team's place in the knockout stages of the Champions League. But the search for ease of José Mourinho continues …

United dominated the ball early in the game but quickly lost money. There seemed to be a lack of ideas as visitors gained confidence. But with Valencia's defeat by Juventus, Fellaini's goal was enough to qualify for Group H and make United's European ambitions a reality.

Here we select the discussion points of the game …

Slow starts continue

Mourinho had stressed that it was not him who encouraged his Manchester United players to start the games with the handbrake. He distanced himself from this particular problem, saying that, just like the fans, he wanted to see his team leave with more verve.

"They think that" Jose told them to start slowly, "told them to play nicely and wait to see what's going on or" d & # 39; To be the loser and then react "It's exactly the opposite, I want the team I want the team to commit immediately and it's a bit frustrating", a- he declared before the match.

That may be the envy, but United's first half-year report over the past two months is telling. In the 11 games they took part in during that period, the Mourinho team scored white for nine of them and scored one goal in each of the other two games.

Fellaini delivers again

The good news is that they have arrived at the end. The hair may have disappeared, but Fellaini retains his ability to make things happen for United. It was the Belgian who, on the other hand, clung to Romelu Lukaku's head and, after a handball, broke the ball in the corner of the net.

It's far from being the first time that Fellaini shows up with a big goal late. His tying goal against Derby in the Carabao Cup counted for little when United beat anytime in the shootout, but he also produced the late Arsenal winner at Old Trafford in April.

This was only the last reminder of the threat to which he could be exposed. United just needs to find a way to start the games as well as they finish them.

Rashford is useless

Marcus Rashford was fortunate to change that, but was able to pass the ball over the bar only when he scored the goal. According to Opta, Rashford has now missed six of his seven big chances this season – and it's safe to say that Mourinho is frustrated.

"You need a thick skin to play under this manager," Luke Shaw had said before. When Rashford sees Mourinho's very public disgust at his defeat, one can only imagine what he will feel. He is not likely to improve his confidence down.

The English striker was part of a group of players accused of "lack of maturity" by Mourinho recently, but he has the support and encouragement he needs? Whatever the solution, it is a difficult time for him.

From Gea to the rescue

Fortunately for United, they have David de Gea. There was only 20 minutes left before the goalkeeper made an incredible save, getting the ball out of goal after two deflections on Chris Smalling and Kevin Mbabu.

De Gea had a tough World Cup for Spain and was a bit below his all-time record this season, especially because of the lack of protection that was waiting for him, but that was typical of his ability to make stops that others do not.

It was the only one he had to do but who else could have done it? Mourinho called it a "phenomenal" backup afterwards and he was right. If De Gea had let in this one and United had been denied the win, they would go to Valencia to avoid defeat.

Hope for the future?

Instead, United is in the last 16 games of the Champions League. Mourinho did the work in Europe and will not have to worry about it until February. This gives him the opportunity to focus on national affairs and the task of climbing to the Premier League table.

Southampton are the opponents of the weekend. It's a winnable game and wins generate confidence, but, as Mourinho himself noted afterwards, problems remain. He will have to solve them if United wants to get a significant boost from Fellaini's last show.