Leicester vs. Manchester United: Winners and Losers from Premier League Game
Sunday afternoon saw what is sure to go down as one of the most remarkable results of the Premier League season, as Leicester City roared back from a 3-1 deficit to beat Manchester United 5-3 at the King Power Stadium.
United scored three great goals through Robin van Persie, Angel Di Maria and Ander Herrera, but that was not enough to secure them all three points as the Foxes clawed their way back into the contest and then ran away with it in the closing stages—Leonardo Ulloa scoring twice as David Nugent, Jamie Vardy and Esteban Cambiasso also got on the scoresheet.
After a fantastic game of football, here are some of the winners and losers.
Winner: Jamie Vardy
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Expect to read and hear a lot more about Jamie Vardy's story over the coming days and months: the former non-league player (indeed the first non-league player to transfer for over £1 million) who has ascended the ranks all the way up to the Premier League.
Vardy was a brilliantly threatening presence all afternoon, struggling in the early stages to make an attacking impact but always aware of his defensive duties. Then it all changed for him and, as a consequence, his club, as Vardy bullied Rafael off the ball before being fouled inside the box for a penalty that David Nugent would score to make it 3-2.
After Esteban Cambiasso equalised shortly afterward, suddenly the game was there to be won by either team. And it was Vardy who put the likes of Robin van Persie and Radamel Falcao to shame, showing composure and a clinical edge that belied his experience at this level to slot his one-on-one chance beyond David de Gea.
Vardy was eventually substituted to a rousing reception, and he epitomised everything good about this Leicester performance. Hardworking, tactically aware and, when the chance came, clinical in front of goal. Not bad from Fleetwood Town's finest.
Loser: Manchester United's Defence
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Louis van Gaal reverted to a more conventional back four for this game—Marcos Rojo, Jonny Evans, Tyler Blackett, Rafael—but it did not result in any sort of improved defensive solidity, with all four guilty of some horrible individual errors at different points during the game.
Evans was caught out of position for Leonardo Ulloa's goal before the defender was substituted through injury, with Rafael easily nudged off the ball by Vardy (even if it was a foul, he should have done better with the danger), Rojo being dragged out of position too frequently in the second half and Blackett eventually shown a red card for an attempted tackle that appeared somewhat ill-advised.
United's summer spending has been well-documented, but it is notable how little of that money went to bolster the defence, with what was spent on that area going toward left-backs and little else.
The quips on Twitter suggested Louis van Gaal was Kevin Keegan Mk II—great attacking lineups, awful at the back—and on this evidence, there is a huge amount to be done before United are as tight at the back as they are dangerous going forward.
According to Manchester United on Twitter, Van Gaal had little explanation for the collapse.
"We had complete control. How is it possible that you give this game away?" Van Gaal asked.
Winner: Esteban Cambiasso
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In his first game at his new club, Esteban Cambiasso looked understandably short of full-match fitness. But what is the old saying about form being temporary, class being permanent? Cambiasso's class was certainly fully in evidence.
After a slow start, the Argentine did a brilliant job of shackling Wayne Rooney, a task he had obviously been handed by manager Nigel Pearson. Time and again, Cambiasso robbed the United player of the ball in key areas before distributing the ball sensibly and efficiently to team-mates around him.
Despite that, of course, Leicester ended up two goals behind early in the second half. But then Cambiasso tweaked his positioning and helped inspire his team forward, eventually grabbing the equaliser with a brilliantly calm bit of first-time finishing. It was a classy moment from a classy player and continued a comeback that will be talked about for ages.
Cambiasso was withdrawn from the fray long before the finish, but his impact was unmistakeable. He will surely be a supremely influential player for the Foxes as this campaign goes on—one wonders if some bigger clubs did not miss a trick in not offering him a permanent deal. Their oversight is Leicester's gain.
Loser: Louis van Gaal
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Let us not beat around the bush; dropping a 3-1 advantage to lose 5-3 is an embarrassment for any manager, regardless of the opposition. But when it comes against Leicester City, a newly promoted side with markedly different aspirations for the season to United, it becomes an even more acute cause of concern.
United can argue that Leicester City's first penalty was a gift, and in that assertion they are undoubtedly correct. But to use that as an excuse for the capitulation is little short of a joke; by rights, Louis van Gaal should make sure he and his players take full responsibility for the shocking performance.
To hide behind excuses would only seem disrespectful. Afterward Van Gaal told Sky Sports:
"It seemed like it was complete control (at 3-1) - then you think 'how is it possible you can give this game away,' but I think we gave the game away.
You can play with small possession until the 90th minute, but you cannot do this kind of thing.
In the world of football it's always possible. I have had this experience at Barcelona once and it seems unbelievable that it's happening.
You can't imagine, but it is happening. I don't want to criticise personal errors because that happens in a game, but the team made errors because we didn't keep possession of the ball and that was our main mistake I think.
"
Maybe it is just a case of the player continuing to adjust to new methods. But after the brief respite provided by the domination of QPR, Van Gaal is back under the microscope once again for overseeing a remarkable capitulation.
Winner: Leicester's Ex-Manchester United Contingent
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On Sunday, Leicester's starting line-up contained two former United players in Ritchie de Laet and Danny Drinkwater. Kasper Schmeichel, son of former United goalkeeper Peter, was also in goal—while ex-United trainee Matt James and one-time United trialist Jeffrey Schlupp came off the bench later in the game.
Wins over Manchester United are special for any player. But that cohort might have found it particularly enjoyable.
Loser: Mark Clattenburg
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Mark Clattenburg did not cover himself with glory in his decision to award Leicester a penalty with the scoreline at 3-1. While United cannot realistically use the decision as an excuse for their utter capitulation, they can reasonably assert it was a moment that allowed Leicester back into the contest.
With United having just increased their advantage to two goals, it looked like the game would be over if Louis van Gaal's men could just shut up shop and do a professional job. That strategy was shattered, however, when Jamie Vardy bundled Rafael off the ball down by the byline.
It was a clear foul, but Clattenburg did not blow his whistle—at least not until the Brazilian had gotten back to his feet and put a similar challenge in on the Foxes player.
Suddenly, it was a penalty—and Leicester had a route back into the match.
Both challenges were fouls, so United have every right to wonder what Clattenburg was thinking in calling one and ignoring another. As Van Gaal's side attempt to distract from the dire nature of their final 30 minutes, he may find his one egregiously wrong decision given plenty of discussion time.
