In the Netherlands, they say that Louis van Gaal has “a golden dick”. That was Arjen Robben’s memorable verdict after two Van Gaal substitutions culminated in Holland beating Chile 2-0 at the World Cup last year. It means that his tactical hunches, like taking off Jasper Cillessen and putting Tim Krul in goal for the penalty shoot-out against Costa Rica, tend to come off.
Anyone who watched Manchester United wheeze their way to victory over Crystal Palace would be inclined to agree. Fortune favoured Van Gaal again, which has been the case on so many occasions this season, and Marouane Fellaini’s late winner all but secured United’s return to the Champions League with two games to spare. On paper, they are heading in the right direction, back to where a club of this stature belongs.
Yet this was another poor performance. Van Gaal’s side looked sure to be dropping more points until Fellaini headed in Ashley Young’s cross in the 78th minute and it is not entirely clear how United have pulled this off. You could assemble football’s finest minds in an attempt to work it out and even they would be perplexed, their final presentation focusing on David de Gea’s excellence, United possessing more character than their rivals and, er, is anyone else ready for lunch?
The overall impression is that United are less the fourth best team in England, more the fourth least worst, and they would have been staring at a fourth consecutive defeat if De Gea had not made a stunning save to deny Glenn Murray in the 71st minute.
It was a pivotal moment. Palace were the superior side at that point. Jason Puncheon, on as a half-time substitute, cancelled out Juan Mata’s early penalty when his free-kick flicked off Daley Blind’s head in the 57th minute and Palace fancied their chances. United were jittery. Seven minutes after De Gea’s save, though, Young crossed from the left, Radamel Falcao’s little shove on Damien Delaney knocked the centre-back into Palace’s goalkeeper, Julián Speroni, and it was an easy header for Fellaini. His seventh goal of the season was arguably his most important.
Lucky United? Their critics would say so. Ultimately, however, it is impossible to rely on luck alone for an entire season. After 38 games, teams end up where they are meant to be and it is hardly United’s fault that Liverpool, Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur have not pushed them harder.
United have won without playing well and they overcame several obstacles at Selhurst Park. Already missing Michael Carrick, Ángel Di María and Robin van Persie, Luke Shaw was taken off on a stretcher after James McArthur caught him in the face with a stray elbow. Wayne Rooney had to be withdrawn at half-time because of a dead leg and Chris Smalling limped off with cramp near the end. With Phil Jones playing at left-back and Falcao struggling up front, United had to dig in.
“When we came in at half-time we decided we weren’t going to leave without coming away with three points,” Smalling said. “The last few games haven’t been great but we showed character.”
By the same token, United’s fight did not mask their flaws. A month ago, after the 4-2 win over Manchester City, there was fleeting talk of a late title charge. Yet Carrick’s injury was a blow. Their flow is broken without him. United did not take care of the ball and their attacks were laboured. The only attacking player who stood out was Young. He had the beating of Palace’s right-back, Joel Ward, and his cross led to United’s penalty after 19 minutes, Scott Dann leaning into the ball with his arm. Young almost scored in the second half and he created Fellaini’s winner. The impending arrival of the PSV Eindhoven winger, Memphis Depay, acted as a spur for him.“The idea was to get wide and to get crosses in and the goal was what I thought we deserved,” Young said. “There was a collective determination to do well.”
Young has been a target of scorn from United’s supporters in the past, yet his resurgence has been startling. The golden dick continues to work its magic.
Man of the match David de Gea (Manchester United)
