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Manchester United have suffered a turbulent decade because the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013.
After dominating the Premier League since its inception, United have didn’t mount a severe title cost because the nice man left his publish simply over ten years in the past.
Nevertheless, the workforce has nonetheless managed to provide some magical moments regardless of the struggles and immediately marks the anniversary of one of many stand-out performances within the post-Ferguson period.
Again in 2015, United had been locked in a battle for the highest 4 with arch-rivals Liverpool as Louis van Gaal led his troops behind enemy traces with a visit to Anfield.
Brendan Rodger’s aspect sat simply two factors behind United at kick-off and would have fancied their probabilities of leapfrogging Van Gaal’s males into the coveted Champions League locations.
Nevertheless, issues didn’t fairly work out that means for Rodgers whose workforce had been swept apart in a show of dominance hardly ever seen by a United aspect at Anfield.
United took management of proceedings from minute one and it was a theme that may proceed till the full-time whistle.
It was additionally a profession defining day for diminutive Spaniard, Juan Mata, who was United’s Man of the Match after producing moments of real magic.
His first got here after a pinpoint by means of ball from fellow countryman Ander Herrera left Mata needing to solely beat opposition goalie Simon Mignolet.
He did so with aplomb, cutely clipping the ball over the Belgian to provide United a deserved lead after 14 minutes.
United starved Liverpool of the ball for the rest of the half, leaving Rodgers to play his trump card from the bench at half-time, Steven Gerrard.
Nevertheless, no sooner was Gerrard on the pitch, he was despatched off. A ridiculous stamp on Herrera simply 38 seconds into the second half noticed the membership legend see a straight purple in what could be his final look in opposition to United.
Then got here the sport’s most memorable second – Mata’s second. And if his first was tidy, his second was distinctive.
With the clock ticking towards the hour mark, United had been purring, with Angel di Maria scooping a ball simply behind the Spaniard who had ghosted into the Liverpool field as soon as extra.
Juan Mata magic at Anfield 🪄@juanmata8 | @ManUtd pic.twitter.com/V82SXEmXKS
— Premier League (@premierleague) March 22, 2024
Mata then produced a surprising scissor kick which flew into Mignolet’s backside nook and despatched the travelling followers behind the objective into raptures.
It was a objective that proved to be the winner as Daniel Sturridge halved the deficit ten minutes later however United remained calm to safe three worthwhile factors on the day.
United might even afford for Wayne Rooney to overlook a penalty within the dying minutes which might have served to align the scoreline with the gulf in school on show that day.
United went on to safe fourth place within the Premier League and the time period ‘Juanfield’ was born because of the excellent show produced by the Spanish star.
