Champions League

RIO FERDINAND has called for Donny van de Beek to be given a chance in the Premier League.
The Dutch midfielder arrived at Manchester United for £40million in the summer from Ajax.

Three Man United legends have called for Donny van de Beek to start in the Premier LeagueCredit: Getty

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Despite that hefty price tag, boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has rarely used him in the top-flight so far, restricting the playmaker mainly to outings in Europe.
Van de Beek, 23, was handed an opportunity to shine on Tuesday night as the Red Devils hosted Istanbul Basaksehir in the Champions League.
And he took his chance with both hands by producing a brilliant display against the Turkish title holders as United ran out 4-1 winners.

Following his display at Old Trafford, three former United Champions League winners all agreed they wanted to see him given a shot by Solskjaer in the Prem.
Speaking on BT Sport, Ferdinand said: “I was very impressed. You spend £40m on a player and you want to see him make more than just cameos here and there.
“I think he is the one player in this squad who is happy playing one-touch, two-touch, keeping it simple… sacrificing parts of his game to help other people flourish.
“In any great team you need players like that and he’s one player who will make other players tick, and make them play better.”

Fellow United legend Paul Scholes added: “Some of the one-touch, two-touch play in the first-half was excellent.”

“He showed why he’s so highly thought of in European football.””He will make other players tick and perform better.”@rioferdy5 and Paul Scholes liked what they saw as Donny van de Beek ran the show in midfield for Man Utd 👏 pic.twitter.com/bAJpaQPW5l
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) November 24, 2020

And Owen Hargreaves added: “I thought Van de Beek was close to perfect.
“He is so unselfish, he can just fit in and play the right balls everywhere.”
United only need a point from their final two group matches to secure qualification to the knockout stages.
They face Paris Saint-Germain at home next week before travelling to Germany to take on RB Leipzig a week later.
Meanwhile, the Red Devils head to Southampton on Sunday in the Premier League.

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UNSETTLED Olivier Giroud’s stoppage time winner put Chelsea into the knock-out stages and left Frank Lampard admitting: He’s given me a problem.
Giroud’s late header secured the win over Rennes to ensure qualification for the last-16 days after cast doubts over his Blues future because of a lack of game time.

Frank Lampard admits he has a selection dilemma after Olivier Giroud’s winner at RennesCredit: EPA

Lampard has preferred to use Tammy Abraham up front with Timo Werner on the wing in recent gamesCredit: AFP

The 34-year-old could seek a move from Stamford Bridge unless his opportunities improve and boss Lampard said: “I have a problem.
“I have Tammy who is playing well, and we know what he did last year. Oli, who always contributes in that way with that professionalism.
“That problem’s always been there, it’s not a fresh problem and when I say that it’s probably the wrong word because it’s selection issues for me and I need that.
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“We need it with the fact that we’re playing every three days, maybe at Christmas we’re playing every two days unless the scheduling get sorted out.
“It’s hard to say I won’t have to prove to him because all I have to do myself really is look at game by game myself and try and plan to get the best for us.
“At the moment Tammy’s in great form as well. So, I have to pick on face value what I see is the best for us.
“I have two players in a similar position that are fighting for a place – that is a good problem. Oli will get his minutes because we have a busy schedule.

“I think everybody kind of feels, from the outside as well, what a great professional he is and how highly regarded he is by his teammates and by myself.

“Her is so professional in how he trains and looks after himself. Age isn’t even a factor in him – I think he’s getting better with age if anything because of how well he looks after himself, so he offers a lot for us.”
Chelsea still need to finish the job by topping Group E to ensure they are in the seeded pot by the time the knock-out stage draw is made.
But the got the job done in France with Giroud’s late winner having been pegged back four minutes from time after leading through an excellent first-half striker from Callum Hudson-Odoi.
Lampard added: “I’m very happy to qualify with two games to spare. It was a really tough match, they’re a very good team.
“Their recent form doesn’t reflect how good they are, it was a tough hard-fought win.”

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A FIRST HALF blitz ensured Manchester United blew Istanbul Basaksehir away to claim the points in the Champions League.
It should have been game over after just 35 minutes after a Bruno Fernandes brace and a Marcus Rashford penalty fired them into a 3-0 lead.

Van de Beek produced a great display for United against BasaksehirCredit: EPA

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But the visitors refused to give up and caused several worrying moments in the second period, especially after Deniz Turuc pulled one back with a free-kick.
Fortunately substitute Daniel James eased any fears late on to cap off a 4-1 win.
Sun Sport’s Gary Stonehouse rates how each United player performed at Old Trafford:

David De Gea – 6/10
Rarely called into action due to the poor finishing of Istanbul Basaksehir but will feel he could have done better to stop the free-kick which denied him his clean sheet.
A harsher critic might think he could have gotten across quicker to stop the effort from crossing the line.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka – 6
Did what was expected and got up and down the flank well.
Perhaps he was struggling as he went straight down the tunnel looking unhappy when taken off – but fingers-crossed it is nothing serious.

Victor Lindelof – 7
Rarely struggled defensively and produced a superb pass for Rashford to race clear and win a penalty for United – which the forward coolly dispatched.
Landed awkwardly just before half time, and given his recent back issues and the 3-0 lead, was wisely replaced by Axel Tuanzebe at the break.
Harry Maguire – 6
Allowed Demba Ba to get away from him too easily in the first half when defending a free-kick, but the ex-Newcastle man should have done better than head wide.
It’s moments like that which still has some doubting the £85m defender. Made amends moments before the break with a block to deny the same player six yards out.
He and Tuanzebe did not look comfortable together in the second half leading to a couple of panicky moments.
Booked for time-wasting late on.

Alex Telles showed real attacking threat down the leftCredit: AP:Associated Press
Alex Telles – 7
Won and then took the corner that led to Fernandes’ opener before providing the cross for the second.
Getting better with each game and offers United even more threat going forwards – his big test will come when he comes up against an attacker who possesses the same danger.
Donny van de Beek – 8
Linked up well with Fred to sit in whenever the Brazilian pressed to offer protection to the back four and rarely gave the ball away all night.
Made a good sliding challenge first half to clear the danger just as an attacker was waiting to pull the trigger.
Neither he nor Fred still look capable of being that midfield man who can get it out wide to the wingers quickly to get them in those one-on-one situations that fans love to see.
If they can get someone alongside him who can do that then the Dutchman will become a key man for the Red Devils.
That said, he did produce a brilliantly-weighted throughball to set Greenwood free to tee-up James for the fourth.
Fred – 6
Pressed higher than usual to win back the ball and regain possession for his team, with Van de Beek dropping to cover.
Still needs to be a bit more adventurous, as despite their early lead, he tended to continue playing square-balls instead of trying to carve open the opposition.

Bruno Fernandes grabbed a brace for UnitedCredit: AFP
Bruno Fernandes – 8
Continues to get better and better and he is undoubtedly United’s talisman under Solskjaer.
His first one was an effort Paul Scholes would have been proud of with a first-time half-volley from 20 yards and he showed a poacher’s instinct to tap home his second.
Passed up the opportunity for a hat-trick by generously handing the penalty over to Rashford.
He has now been involved in 34 goals in 35 games since his arrival in January and without question he has been the club’s best signing for years.
Marcus Rashford – 7
Showed great skill and footwork inside two minutes to dance through the defence for the first opportunity of the game and had one ruled out soon after for offside after a VAR check.
That set the tone for the rest of the night, and he got his name on the scoresheet with an ice-cold finish from the spot for his eighth of the season.
Anthony Martial – 6
Started on the left instead of centrally to make room for Cavani and was up against former United defender Rafael.
Showed flashes of threat but was outshone by the rest of his attacking team-mates this evening.

Edinson Cavani never stopped running on his first start for UnitedCredit: EPA
Edinson Cavani – 8
Finally given a start by Solskjaer and did not disappoint.
Great movement to put off the goalkeeper and force him into a mistake for United’s second, Cavani never stopped running and chasing all night.
Looked desperate for a goal, and you had to feel for him when Greenwood opted to go it alone instead of playing it across for the veteran so he could get a goal for his efforts.
Focal point of the attack and excellent with his back to goal and bringing others into play – to-notch work-rate.
SUBS: Axel Tuanzebe (On 45 mins) – 5
Booked within ten minutes of coming on and that rules him out of the PSG game next week.
He and Maguire did not appear to be on the same wavelength at times, resulting in some nervy moments.
Dan James (On 60 mins) – 6
Given half an hour to impress in place of Rashford but was unfortunate that the trio of changes that led to his introduction took the intensity out of United’s play. 
Still showing a lack of confidence to run direct at the opposition, like he shows for Wales, but got a much needed boost by grabbing the fourth after showing great desire to get into a scoring position.

Daniel James got a much-needed goal to round-off a great nightCredit: AP:Associated Press
Brandon Williams (On 60 mins) – 7
Defended well once on and did not allow the visitors much of a sniff down their left flank.
Mason Greenwood (On 60 minutes) – 5
Should have squared it for Cavani within seconds of coming on but went for glory himself.
Fortunately spotted James in the dying seconds to roll him in for the fourth.
Nemanja Matic (On 82 mins) – 5
Introduced to shore up the team as the visitors continued to push on late on and helped to shore things up.

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THIS is what Manchester United can do, in form and in the mood. Can we see this every week? Their fans will ask.
Never mind it was just Istanbul Basaksehir, a club formed just six years ago.

Bruno Fernandes scored twice as Man Utd beat Istanbul Basaksehir 4-1Credit: Getty Images – Getty

The Portuguese ace netted an incredible volley from distance to start the goal festCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

Fernandes sacrificed the chance to get a hat-trick by allowing Marcus Rashford to take a penaltyCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

This is a side that broke the monopoly of the big three in Turkey last season to lift the title.
A side that beat United last time out, proving that if your just off your game in the Champions League you will come unstuck, the standard is that high.
Having gifted two goals in that 2-1 defeat in the Turkish capital, manager Ole Solskjaer emphasised the need for full effort and concentration.
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He got that and more with Bruno Fernandes at the centre of it all. Two goals, the first a thunderbolt from 20-yards, he ran the show.
It is on these occasions that he plays with a smile on his face. When he can take matters into his own hands, drift here and there and constantly get on the ball.
Of course the sort of space he enjoyed in this game is not often afforded in the Premier League by any side. But an early goal can always open things up.
It is why Sir Alex Ferguson’s teams used to go straight for the throat from the kick-off against teams domestically in particular.

Non of this sizing each other up. Get a goal, ruin their best-laid plans then finish the game off.

Daniel James came off the bench to score United’s fourthCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

United will have been pleased with the result despite taking their foot off the gas in the second halfCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

Fernandes’ second was a composed tap-in following some fine build-up playCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

United did that last night with a 3-0 advantage by the break and three more Group H points wrapped up.
The opener on seven minutes was the highlight. You could hear the crack of the ball hitting the net as Fernandes struck.
Alex Telles took a corner and defender Alexandru Epureanu headed to just outside the box. Fernandes, unmarked, had hung back there hoping for this very scenario.
So he was shaped up and ready to strike as the ball flew his way, releasing a scorching volley into the roof of the net.
The problem under Solskjaer too often is a failure to capitalise fully when on top. Not last night, the foot stayed on the pedal with the second coming in the 19th minute.
Telles supplied the initial ball again with a cross from the left and goalkeeper Mert Gunok let the it slip through his hands for Fernandes to slot home.
He had got himself into a striker’s position, anticipating the possibilities and the set up was allowing him to.

Rashford kept his nerve to slot home from the spotCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

Edinson Cavani had a good game as the team’s focal point in attackCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
Solskjaer was playing Marcus Rashford wide right and Anthony Martial was shifted from the central number nine position to the left.
Edinson Cavani made his full debut down the middle with his first start since March.
While the Uruguayan was not getting many touches of the ball the Turkish defence seemed terrified by the 33-year-old’s reputation.
So he ran this way and that to open up spaces for others and allow Fernandes to come from deep. That is five in three games for him and only one of those from the spot.
The third last night, on 35 minuites, did, however, come from the spot. Well it wouldn’t be United without a penalty.
Rashford’s pace won it.  Racing from the halfway line onto a long ball from Lindelof he stepped actross Boli Bolingol who bundled him over.
The chance for a first half hat-trick for Fernandes? But no, Rashford was taking it and with a stuttering run-up he sent the goalkeeper the wrong way and slotted the ball into the bottom right hand corner.

Donny van de Beek proved his worth after being handed a rare startCredit: EPA

United will be hoping for a similar performance against Southampton this weekendCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
The game won Solskjaer was in the enviable position amongst Premier League managers right now of being able to give key players a breather.
A triple substitution meant Fernandes, Rashford and Aaron Wan-Bissaka could sit out the final half hour ahead of Sunday’s tricky trip to fifth placed Southampton.
Basaksehir did get one back in the 75th minute with David de Gea bizarrely diving behind his ling to stop a Deniz Tunic free-kick. The ball clearly over the line when he made his save.
Edin Visca would then rattle the bar too, but United regained their composure to see the game out, with Mason Greenwood setting up Daniel James for an injury time fourth.
Victory last night leaves United on top of Group H with nine points and qualification still not guaranteed with PSG the next visitors then a final day trip to RB Leipzig.
They were very impressive in beating both of those teams earlier in the group. Indeed they can be very impressive as trips to Everton and Newcastle in the league have also shown.
Beat the Saints and they will have six more points than at the same stage last season when they finished third and still with a game in hand on many above them.
There is also an EFL quarter-final against Everton to look forward to. It is not always doom and gloom around Old Trafford.

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