Top 10 Noteworthy Highlights from MU's 4-1 Victory over Fenerbahce

Michael Owen criticized Rooney after the match for giving up both penalty kicks to Pogba and Martial. Owen emphasized that as the striker, Rooney should have taken the penalties himself, which could have earned him two more goals and allowed him to surpass Van Nistelrooy’s goal record. However, Rooney showcased his leadership and team spirit by allowing both penalties to be taken by Pogba and Martial, who converted them into two goals for United. Rooney understood that easing the mental pressure on the younger players was more important than chasing personal records. This selflessness is the hallmark of a true leader. Recently, Rooney has come under criticism due to his declining form, often being the focal point of criticism for United’s wins and losses. In reality, he still contributes significantly to the team’s play, consistently making runs and pressing. It was Rooney who won the ball and passed to Lingard, eventually leading to Pogba’s goal. This was Rooney’s best performance of the season, executing Mourinho’s tactical instructions to perfection. Despite playing as a center forward, he frequently dropped deep, pulling Fenerbahce’s defenders towards him to create space for United's attacking midfielders. This movement caused confusion in the defense, leading to fouls as Mata and Martial broke forward.

Pogba scored twice in this match and made significant contributions to the overall play. However, alongside him today wasn’t Herrera, but the seasoned veteran Carrick. Despite that, Pogba played exceptionally well with the security of having a competent defensive midfielder beside him. Pogba can only truly excel when paired with a midfielder who can control the game, like Pirlo did for him at Juventus. Currently, United has Herrera, Carrick, Schneiderlin, and Fellaini as potential defensive midfielders. Only Herrera and Carrick can form a solid partnership with Pogba. Schneiderlin hasn't yet cemented a regular spot in the team, while Fellaini lacks the necessary qualities to support Pogba. It is highly likely that Mourinho wanted to rest Herrera ahead of their upcoming match against Chelsea, which boasts midfielders like Kante and Matic. The Pogba-Herrera partnership, which has worked well recently, will likely remain Mourinho’s preferred option.

Young midfielder Jesse Lingard continues to earn Mourinho's trust, playing on the right wing in the 4-2-3-1 formation. Alongside Martial on the opposite wing, they form a dynamic duo with speed, excellent playmaking ability, and quick short passes. In this match, Lingard impressed his manager with a goal and an assist. His movement, positional awareness, and chemistry with teammates have earned him a stable spot on the right wing. It is likely that there will be no changes to the wingers in the upcoming weekend match.

In the final moments, Robin van Persie scored a consolation goal for Fenerbahce. He didn’t celebrate but simply faced the crowd and gave a respectful clap. In response, Sir Alex and thousands of United fans in the stands applauded Van Persie, even though he had just scored against his former team. It's rare for a player to receive such warm applause from a former club’s supporters after scoring against them. This gesture shows the enduring affection MU fans have for Van Persie. A banner reading 'V.Persie #20' could also be seen in the stands, further emphasizing that he will always be welcomed back at Old Trafford.

Juan Mata may not have scored directly, but he continued to make a significant impact on United’s overall play. When trusted by Mourinho in his preferred number 10 role, Mata fully realized his potential and became a constant threat. He made a clever run to draw a foul from Fenerbahce’s defenders, and he also played a key role in launching the ball to set up Martial, leading to another penalty. When not assisting the striker, the quartet of Mata, Lingard, Pogba, and Martial displayed quick, intricate short-passing combinations that created numerous opportunities, including Pogba's long-range goal. If he remains injury-free, Mata is likely to retain his place in the starting lineup for the weekend’s match.

Rumors had circulated that Darmian might be on his way out during the winter transfer window, with several names already being suggested as potential replacements for his right-back position. However, Mourinho surprised everyone by including Darmian in the starting lineup for this match. It's possible that this decision was part of a strategy to rest Valencia ahead of the crucial Chelsea match this weekend. Darmian didn't contribute significantly to United's overall play in this match, as the midfield dominated possession. Additionally, he isn't the ideal fit for Mourinho due to his physical attributes and pace. From the start of the season, Mourinho has made no secret of his intent to offload Darmian, and it’s likely he will return to the bench soon.

In this match, Manchester United made 7 changes to their lineup from the 1-1 draw against Liverpool, keeping just three defenders: goalkeeper De Gea and center-backs Smalling and Bailly, along with midfielder Pogba. This adjustment makes sense given that United needed to rest key players for the upcoming crucial game against Chelsea. Players returning from injury and not yet at peak form, like Shaw, Martial, Darmian, and Rooney, were given a chance to start.

In this match, the world’s most expensive midfielder, Paul Pogba, scored twice to relieve the mounting pressure on him, as many had begun to doubt his value to United. One goal came from a penalty, and the other was a stunning long-range strike outside the box. Clearly, Pogba looked relaxed and confident in this game. These two goals should give him a boost of confidence as he prepares for the upcoming high-stakes match against Chelsea this weekend (Premier League, Round 9).

Ibrahimovic wasn't the only player Mourinho opted to leave out for this match, but his absence was the most noticeable in United's lineup. Rooney was chosen to play as the central striker in his place. After a strong start, Ibra has shown signs of slowing down. In recent games, despite his teammates feeding him plenty of chances, the 35-year-old forward has struggled to convert them. Without Ibrahimovic, the rest of the team could focus on quick, short passes, freely moving the ball without always having to rely on the central striker. Rooney, playing as the main forward, mainly pulled defenders out of position to allow teammates like Mata and Martial to make runs, resulting in two penalties. Clearly, Mourinho may want to consider resting Ibra after a series of matches with a low goal-scoring output.

Mkhitaryan joined Manchester United last summer for a transfer fee of £30 million, with high hopes that the Armenian would bring creativity to United's attack. However, injury setbacks and difficulty adapting to United's playing style have made it hard for him to secure a regular spot in Mourinho's star-studded lineup. Despite recovering from injury, the player was not included in the matchday squad due to fitness concerns and issues that arose during a training session ahead of the game. Mourinho explained in a press conference, 'He needs to work harder to regain the fitness and form required to perform at a high intensity.' Mkhitaryan's availability for the weekend match remains uncertain.