In the end it was a very, very comfortable evening for Manchester United.
Although their opponents may not have been of the calibre of the Premier League, United can take plenty of positives (and the odd negative) away from a game which saw them reclaim their place in the Champions League after a one-year absence.
1. Ander Herrera should be playing every game
Quite how Ander Herrera fails to hold down a place in the Manchester United starting line-up is baffling. It’s no coincidence that the team’s best football last season came at a time when the Spaniard was reintroduced. He offers goals, quick crisp passing and a tireless work-rate when the team are not in possession, yet Herrera has never seemed to convince Louis van Gaal that he warrants a starting berth.
Finally given the chance against Brugge, Herrera’s first-half performance was below his usual standard. Playing in a deeper role alongside Michael Carrick, he found himself booked within the first fifteen minutes; he snapped at a shot that sailed high over the cross-bar; things weren’t going to plan.
Playing in a more advanced role in the second-half, Herrera showcased the better qualities of his game. Heavily involved in United’s attacking play, laying on an assist for Rooney’s second and showing a cool head when slotting in United’s fourth, it remains to be seen whether Louis van Gaal will give him a consecutive start away at Swansea on Sunday.
2. Wayne Rooney isn’t back to his best, but a hat-trick shows he’s well on the way
The headline grabber will clearly be Wayne Rooney, whose hat-trick not only ends his goal drought, but will go a long way to renewing some of the confidence that has seemed to be lacking in his game through the early weeks of the season.
Goals aside, other aspects of his game seemed greatly improved – not back to their best, but definitely improved. Maybe it was because he was afforded more time than he would have been in the Premier League, but his touch seemed much sharper. Playing in a slightly different attacking formation this season, his developing understanding with Memphis Depay was also there for all to see – notably with his first goal of the evening.
Although he can expect a sterner challenge against Swansea in United’s return to league action, the signs that Wayne Rooney is stirring could not be more clear after his performance tonight.
3. Memphis Depay does share one similarity with a young Cristiano Ronaldo
Arriving at the club with the reputation for being an exciting youngster and given the number seven shirt, comparisons with Cristiano Ronaldo were obvious. That said, their playing styles are very different.
One definite likeness that Memphis does share with a young Cristiano is his decision-making. Despite being heavily involved in United’s first four goals in the tie against Brugge, the Dutchman found himself in good positions on numerous occasions only to play the wrong pass or run himself into a blind alley. As much as Cristiano was loved at Old Trafford, poor decision-making was also a regular feature of his early years in Manchester.
On a more positive note, the games against Brugge have shown glimpses of what Depay is capable of. Having failed to impress so far, it remains to be seen if he can reproduce this in league games.
4. Javier Hernandez could be heading for the exit door
In a way, you can’t help but feel for Chicharito. Louis van Gaal quickly decided that the Mexican wasn’t good enough for his Manchester United squad and farmed him out to Real Madrid for a season long loan. Despite not being tipped by many to succeed in Madrid, he did alright – even managing to get a big Champions League goal against Atletico. Now back at United, it seems like he could be on his way again.
Against Newcastle at the weekend he missed the sort of chance that he would have scored with his eyes closed a couple of years ago. Against Brugge, he produced one of the worst cameos ever seen. He’s never been particularly effective with his back to goal, and that was evident again in Belgium. Finishing, however, has always been his greatest strength. Even that deserted him – slipping when taking a penalty and managing to put the ball over when presented with an empty goal.
A year to the day that he featured for United in their battering at MK Dons, Hernandez has done little to impress the boss again.
5 Luke Shaw can be United’s left-back for the next decade
For one reason or another, things never really happened for Luke Shaw in his first season in Manchester. Very public questions were asked about his weight and fitness, and a string of injuries meant that he was often overlooked in favour of Marcos Rojo and Daley Blind.
The game against Brugge though was more evidence that Luke Shaw will cement his place as United left-back. He looks as fit as he has ever been in his short time at the club, and his overall play again caught the eye. His pace is a real asset, nullifying the threat of the Brugge right-winger – himself no slouch. Defensively he was immaculate, showing discipline and positional sense that suggest he’s much older than he actually is.
With the start to the season he has made and Leighton Baines suffering injury problems of his own in recent weeks, Shaw could well be England’s first choice left-back by the time of the European Championships.
