Gylfi Sigurdsson struck to give Swansea City a 2-1 win at Manchester United in the Premier League on Saturday as the Louis van Gaal era at Old Trafford misfired.
After new United captain Wayne Rooney had cancelled out an opening goal from Ki Sung-yueng, Sigurdsson scored in the 72nd minute to hand United their first opening-day home defeat since 1972.
Wilfried Bony’s quick free-kick enabled Jefferson Montero to cross from the left and although Wayne Routledge miscued his volley, the unmarked Sigurdsson was able to finish from eight yards. It was a goal that highlighted United’s defensive frailties, exacerbated by a lack of fit defenders that meant that winger Ashley Young had to be pressed into action at left-back in the second half. Until that point, it appeared that former Netherlands manager Van Gaal was poised to prove himself the ideal successor to David Moyes, who was sacked in April after a dismal maiden campaign. One of the main criticisms of Moyes’s reign concerned his tactical nous and it took Van Gaal only 45 minutes to suggest that he offers a serious upgrade in that department.
After an underwhelming first half, in which they trailed to Ki’s first goal for the Welsh club, Van Gaal brought on Nani to replace the ineffective Javier Hernandez.
After new United captain Wayne Rooney had cancelled out an opening goal from Ki Sung-yueng, Sigurdsson scored in the 72nd minute to hand United their first opening-day home defeat since 1972.
Wilfried Bony’s quick free-kick enabled Jefferson Montero to cross from the left and although Wayne Routledge miscued his volley, the unmarked Sigurdsson was able to finish from eight yards. It was a goal that highlighted United’s defensive frailties, exacerbated by a lack of fit defenders that meant that winger Ashley Young had to be pressed into action at left-back in the second half. Until that point, it appeared that former Netherlands manager Van Gaal was poised to prove himself the ideal successor to David Moyes, who was sacked in April after a dismal maiden campaign. One of the main criticisms of Moyes’s reign concerned his tactical nous and it took Van Gaal only 45 minutes to suggest that he offers a serious upgrade in that department.
After an underwhelming first half, in which they trailed to Ki’s first goal for the Welsh club, Van Gaal brought on Nani to replace the ineffective Javier Hernandez.