Manchester United News: Nail-biting Win Over Leeds United Silences Naysayers

Manchester United fans had reason to worry about their club’s most recent English Premier League matchup against Leeds United, but those worries were deemed to be untrue by the time the final whistle was blown.

Interim manager Ralf Rangnick believes that their victory has showed that rumors of their issues in the locker room were nothing but hearsay.

“It was perfect in regard to maturity and unity and the best reply they could give to some articles last week that there was disruption in the locker room. A game like this one today, you can only win as a team and the mentality of a team. Apart from the three points, this was the most important thing for me,” Rangnick said in the post-game presser as quoted by the Manchester Evening News.

Playing in a torrential downpour at Leeds United’s home stadium of Elland Road, the Red Devils took the lead as the game was nearing halftime thanks to headers from captain Harry Maguire and Bruno Fernandes.

Maguire’s goal is worth noting as it was the first goal that Manchester United scored off a corner in 140 attempts this season.

However, Leeds United was not going to give up on the game despite not having Kalvin Phillips and Liam Cooper on the field for this match.

To start the second half, Leeds United forwards Rodrigo and Raphinha scored back-to-back goals within 58 seconds of each other to put the pressure on Manchester United.

Rangnick noted that the two goals caught his side off guard, but their response to the score being tied proved that they had another gear within them.

Clearly needing an injection of energy to fuel the comeback, young forward Anthony Elanga and Fred were brought off the bench to replace Jesse Lingard and Paul Pogba respectively at the 67th minute.

Three minutes later, Manchester United found themselves ahead thanks to a powerful strike from Fred after Jadon Sancho laid off the ball perfectly towards his left foot.

Fernandes set up Elanga's highlight reel moment perfectly–threading the ball past the defense right to Elanga, who struck the ball right in between keeper Illan Meslier’s legs for the 4-2 match-winner at the 88th minute.

The victory puts Manchester United four points ahead of West Ham United for fourth in the Premier League and four points behind Chelsea for third place.

“We knew it was an important win today, similar to the one against West Ham [United], similar emotion at the end with a last-second goal. Today it was more important not only that we won but the way we reacted after conceding the equalizer, that was the best possible answer the team could give,” Rangnick added.

Manchester United will next face Atletico Madrid on Wednesday, February 23 in the first leg of the Round of 16 in the UEFA Champions League.