Lost the ball every 3 touches: £80k-p/w gem may have now played his last game for MUFC – opinion

Manchester United did not fail in putting on a show at Elland Road this afternoon, defeating Leeds United 4-2 in a tense match.

Manchester United players scored four goals in an offensive display at both ends of the pitch, with Harry Maguire, Bruno Fernandes, Fred, and Anthony Elanga all finding the back of the net.

Leeds United, on the other hand, did not go down without a fight, dominating possession (54 percent) and scoring two goals in 24 seconds in the 53rd and 54th minutes.

However, Manchester United’s talent all over the pitch was ultimately too much for the home team to handle, as Ralf Rangnick’s side take all three points, moving them four points clear within the top four and fourth in the Premier League rankings.

Jesse Lingard, who was given the golden opportunity of starting in the side today afternoon but could have blown it, was one player who failed to make an impact in the game, despite the Red Devils’ tight win.

According to SofaScore, the Manchester United forward performed poorly against Leeds United, losing the majority of his duels (67.5 percent), committing two fouls, being dribbled past twice, and dropping the ball every three out of 29 touches.

Rangnick eventually benched him in the 67th minute to make room for Elanga, who came on and made a considerably bigger impact in less time on the field by scoring the fourth goal.

This performance from the £80k-per-week gem will only bolster Rangnick’s argument that Lingard has been left out of the starting lineup in recent months, as the Manchester United manager gave Lingard permission to leave in January, but when the club blocked the move, the player was forced to serve out the remaining six months of his contract at his boyhood club. As a result, following a poor performance this weekend, this could be the last chance the manager gives Lingard to squander.

This performance from the £80k-per-week gem will only bolster Rangnick’s argument that Lingard has been left out of the starting lineup in recent months, as the Manchester United manager gave Lingard permission to leave in January, but when the club blocked the move, the player was forced to serve out the remaining six months of his contract at his boyhood club. As a result, following a poor performance this weekend, this could be the last chance the manager gives Lingard to squander.