Dalot’s winner a fitting tribute to Man Utd legend Charlton،
It took 77 minutes of the match against Sheffield United, but finally Manchester United paid a fitting tribute to Sir Bobby Charlton.
Charlton was famous during his playing career for his spectacular strikes from outside the box and the former England and United striker, who died on Saturday aged 86, is said to have approved Diogo Dalot’s winning goal at Bramall Lane.
Dalot’s goal, scored into the top corner from 25 yards, earned United a narrow 2-1 victory over the Blades as Erik ten Hag’s side won back-to-back Premier League games for the first time this season .
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Speaking before kick-off, the Dutchman said he wanted to win for Charlton, but also urged his players to do it in a style the former Ballon d’Or winner would have enjoyed. United made the first move but fell short in the second part of Ten Hag’s challenge.
This is still a team – whether through injuries, a lack of confidence or a mix of both – that looks vulnerable and Sheffield United, the bottom team in the Premier League, could well be looking back thinking she should have gotten more out of the match. . Despite only having one point to their name this season, they were the better team for most of the first half and when Scott McTominay scored the first goal after 28 minutes, it was went completely against the run of play. It was certainly not a performance that suggested Man United’s difficult start to the campaign was already over.
“We wanted to remember Sir Bobby and I think we did it in a decent way,” Ten Hag said afterwards. “We are of course happy with the victory. Find a way to win and that was the approach to this game.
“The first half was not the best on our side, but from the second half we controlled the match and won with a great goal.”
After six defeats in nine games, it’s now two wins either side of the international break and, if Ten Hag’s players need any extra motivation to turn their season around, they only need to look at Charlton and this that he represented.
He was an academy graduate who survived the 1958 Munich air disaster that killed eight of his teammates and became a central part of Sir Matt Busby’s resurgent team that won the European Cup at just 10 years later.
He was the club’s record appearances and goalscorer for decades and helped England win the World Cup in 1966, the same year he was named the world’s best player.
After retiring he became a club manager, but he had an enthusiasm for football which meant he occasionally took part in training sessions when Sir Alex Ferguson was manager until he was in his sixties. Charlton’s work ethic, spirit and ability as a goal creator and scorer are things the current generation would do well to aspire to – something not lost on Ten Hag, who could do with a few players like him.
“He set the standard as a Manchester United player,” Ten Hag said. “What he achieved is an example for us and for all of us, it should be an inspiration, not only to achieve a victory, but also for his standards.
“We have to pay our dues, say our goodbyes, remembering Bobby Charlton because what he did was magnificent. He was exceptional on and off the pitch.”
With a European clash against FC Copenhagen on Tuesday and the derby against Manchester City on Sunday, this could prove to be a pivotal week in United’s season.
Bottom of their Champions League group after two defeats, they need to beat the Danish champions at Old Trafford to keep their hopes of qualifying for the last 16 alive, while a win over City would instantly make things a lot rosier.
There are issues that Ten Hag must resolve, such as how Sheffield United, who have now lost eight of their nine games since promotion from the Championship, have been allowed to be in the spotlight for so long in first half, and why United keep conceding. goals almost immediately after scoring? After allowing Arsenal, Bayern Munich and Galatasaray to fight back, they did it again when McTominay awarded a penalty just two minutes and 55 seconds after giving United the lead.
In the end it wasn’t as costly as it could have been and on the day United honored one of their greatest ever players, Dalot’s winner meant it was marked by a well-deserved victory.
But to remember Charlton is to remember what every United team should be, and Ten Hag still has work to do to ensure this current team meets the benchmark set by the Manchester United legend.
