With the business end of the season approaching, every game is considered to be a final of sorts these days and the game between Manchester United and Swansea was no exception. While United were keen to move into the top 4 with a victory against their Welsh visitors, Swansea languished in the 18th spot, three points away from safety.
It was Wayne Rooney who opened the scoring for the Red Devils from the penalty spot in the 48th minute after referee Neil Swarbrick controversially pointed to the spot after adjudging that Lukasz Fabianski had brought down Marcus Rashford. However, Swansea refused to give up and were eventually rewarded when Gylfi Sigurdsson beat David De Gea with a stunning free-kick from just outside the box in the 79th minute.
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Here are the 5 talking points from the game.
#1 Manchester United’s unbeaten streak continues but it might not suffice
The draw at home against Swansea ensured that Manchester United have now broken their own unbeaten record in the Premier League. They have now gone unbeaten in 25 consecutive leagues games and while some may consider that a minor success under Jose Mourinho, many believe that it is draws such as the one against Swansea that have severely affected their chances of finishing in the top 4.
Their inability to eke out a positive result at home against supposedly weaker sides has left many fans frustrated and that was on display yet again as they let Swansea dominate proceedings for large durations of the first half.
While they did take the lead going into the 2nd half and were expected to pile on the misery, that was not the case since Swansea, aware of the side’s unimpressive record at home this season (Jose Mourinho’s side have managed 31 points out of a possible 54 in their home games) as well as their deficiencies, took the battle to the hosts and made them pay dearly.
#2 Injury troubles do not seem to go away for the Red Devils
As if the poor result at home, especially in light of the side currently sitting out of the top 4, was not enough, injuries to key defenders might mean that Manchester United’s campaign is all but over. The side was already without the services of Marcos Rojo, Chris Smalling and Phil Jones going into the game against the Swans and their troubles were compounded during the course of it.
Luke Shaw had to come off within the first 10 minutes of the game and Eric Bailly, who has been one of the consistent performers under Mourinho, was also forced to leave the game in the 2nd half owing to an ankle injury. While the extent of their injuries is yet to be revealed, it does not spell good news for Manchester United and Mourinho in particular.
The side has tough games against the likes of Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur as well as Celta Vigo coming up and the Portuguese manager will be hard pressed for defensive resources.
#3 Europa League Manchester United’s best bet of qualifying for UEFA Champions League
The result on Sunday means that Manchester United currently sit in the 5th spot on the Premier League table. While the measly point that separates them from the 3rd placed Liverpool might not be a great area of concern for the club’s fans, it is the games to come that might lead them to believe that the Europa League is their best bet of qualifying for the upcoming season of the Champions League.
The Red Devils' remaining four games are against Arsenal (Away), Tottenham Hotspur (Away), Southampton (Away) and Crystal Palace (Home) and could be seen as a rather tough set of games to finish the season with.
Arsenal, Tottenham, and Southampton are not easy places to visit, even for the best of teams, and given United’s troubled form and injury concerns, it means that the chance of qualifying for the Champions League as the Europa League champions could lure Mourinho into fielding a weakened side in those fixtures.
Having won a trophy already in his first season, qualification for the Champions League is a must for Mourinho and the Portuguese tactician will not shy away from making tough decisions.
#4 Gylfi Sigurdsson does it again for Swansea
If there is one man amongst the current breed of players who has already established himself as a legend at the Liberty Stadium, it has to be Gylfi Sigurdsson.
The Icelandic international has been one of Swansea’s best players ever since he joined them and showed why he remains one of the best attacking threats from set-pieces with a stunning free-kick that left even a goalkeeper of the stature of David de Gea flabbergasted.
If Swansea do pull off an improbable escape from the relegation zone, the club and the fans will have Sigurdsson to thank for it. The playmaker has scored 9 goals and assisted another 12 (the 2nd highest in the Premier League alongside Christian Eriksen) thus contributing directly to over 50% of the 40 goals scored by Swansea this season.
He has been the team’s most consistent and effective attacking threat and has shown an ability to put even the best of defenders and goalkeepers to shame. That was the case against Manchester United as well.
However, with three more games to go, his job isn’t done and the Icelandic superstar knows that. His ability from set-pieces as well as to create goal scoring opportunities from nothing could be the sole reason Swansea remain in the top flight.
#5 Swansea played their hearts out
The Welsh club have endured a rather tough few weeks as they have slipped down the league table with losses against Hull City, Bournemouth, Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham and Watford since the start of March.
However, they put their troubles behind them as they took on the mighty Manchester United at Old Trafford and came away with a draw. The Welsh side looked the sharper of the two units during the opening exchanges of the game and constantly troubled United with their industry. When they did go down in the game, courtesy a controversial penalty, Swansea still did not yield and fought back valiantly.
While a point will not prove sufficient for the Paul Clement-led unit to climb out of the relegation zone (they are currently 18th with 32 points, 2 behind 17th placed Hull City), it would improve the mood in the camp. Their remaining three games are against Everton (Home), Sunderland (Away) and West Bromwich Albion (Home) and after this result, the side will believe they have a chance of avoiding relegation.
