Manchester United finally knows how to impress with excellent Amrabat


Tuesday, September 26, 2023 at 11:01 PM• Rian Rosendaal • Last update: 23:22

Manchester United easily qualified for the eighth finals of the EFL Cup on Tuesday evening. Manager Erik ten Hag’s team won 3-0 against Crystal Palace at Old Trafford. Sofyan Amrabat made his starting debut as a left back and the supporters were very pleased with the contribution of the Morocco international. Amrabat was allowed to come on for Ten Hag for a very short time against Burnley (0-1) on Saturday. The draw for the fourth round will take place on Wednesday evening.

The Dutch trainer therefore opted for Amrabat in the left back position in a four-man defense. The originally midfielder was assisted at the back by Harry Maguire, Raphaël Varane and Diogo Dalot. Casemiro and Mason Mount acted as controllers at Old Trafford, with Facundo Pellistri, Hannibal Mejbri and Alejandro Garnacho more prominent. Anthony Martial was the attack leader and Marcus Rashford, Rasmus Højlund, Bruno Fernandes and Donny van de Beek were on the bench.

Manchester United, who won their first trophy in six years last season by winning the EFL Cup, took the lead after twenty minutes of play. After a smooth attack by the Red Devils it was the newly arrived Dalot who served Garnacho and the Argentinian-Spanish winger tapped the ball from close range into the short corner: 1-0. Manchester United made cup night a lot easier just minutes later. Casemiro headed perfectly into the left corner from a corner kick from the right: 2-0. Palace could do little to counter that in the first half.

Amrabat could look back on a very strong first half. The summer signing, who acts as a back, won one hundred percent of his personal duels and tackles. In addition, almost all his passes (97 percent) were successful. He also made an impression after the break at Manchester United, which ended the match in the 55th minute. A turning pass from Casemiro was shot in hard at the far post by Martial: 3-0. Ten Hag brought in the excellent Amrabat, who received applause when he made his substitution, and, among others, allowed Van de Beek playing time in the final phase, his first official minutes since January. Manchester United will move on to the cup very easily and will face Crystal Palace again on Saturday, in the Premier League.