Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer avoided a third defeat this week when his team beat Everton 3-1 on Saturday, dispelling doubts about his leadership.
It looked to be another bad day in the office for United after back-to-back losses to Arsenal and Istanbul Basaksehir during the week Everton opened the scoring through Bernard. However, United rebounded with Bruno Fernandes finding the net twice and Edinson Cavani scoring his first United goal to secure a victory.
– Stream ESPN FC daily on ESPN + (US only)
– Predict results in English Soccer Pick ‘Em! From ESPN
– ESPN + Spectator Guide: Bundesliga, Serie A, MLS, FA Cup and more
The victory comes at a crucial moment for Solskjaer, with Saturday’s victory just their third in the Premier League and United in 13th position. While Solskjaer has said he has board support, sources have told ESPN that Mauricio Pochettino and Julian Nagelsmann are being monitored by the club as replacements.
Both teams had their chances in the first 20 minutes, but it was Bernard who broke the deadlock in the 19th minute after Dominic Calvert-Lewin threw a long pass from Jordan Pickford.
Bernard shuffled around Aaron Wan-Bissaka before directing a right-footed shot into the center of David De Gea’s net.
However, their lead only lasted six minutes as United accelerated. Luke Shaw sent a cross into the box and Fernandes headed it.
The Portuguese international found the net again in the 32nd minute when his cross into the box bounced off the post and into the goal.
Initially, it looked like Marcus Rashford had touched the ball to guide him, but the replays showed that all the applause should go to Fernandes.
United had a penalty call at the hour mark when Pickford missed the ball and kicked Harry Maguire. However, the VAR ruled that there was no fault.
Introducing Alex Iwobi seemed to give Everton an injection and they enjoyed their most successful spell in the final 15 minutes, but failed to translate the pressure into a goal.
Everton were caught on the counterattack in the 95th minute when Fernandes launched a run down the middle of the field. With Cavani on his left, he passed the ball to the striker who chose his spot and passed the ball over Pickford for his first United goal.
“The most important thing for me as No. 10 is to serve my teammates, like I did at the end with Cavani,” Fernandes said after the game.
“I had the opportunity to shoot and look for the hat trick, but I see it alone. And if Marcus can score the second goal, it is not a problem for me. Everyone should be leaders.”
Solskjaer was clearly pissed off after the match in the series of games United was expected to play.
“We were prepared to fail. They set the boys up to fail. We were in Turkey on Wednesday night, we played on Saturday lunchtime, it’s an absolute disaster,” he said.
“I can’t praise the boys enough for the character they have shown. Those boys deserve better than being thrown out here to fail today. The authorities set us up to fail.
“You have Liverpool and Manchester City, play on Tuesday, they play on Sunday. Who is responsible? I had enough.”
