Man United are close to securing a top four finish in the Premier League and a ticket to the UEFA Champions League next season after beating Bournemouth 1-0 on Saturday.
With Liverpool dropping points in a 1-1 draw with Aston Villa on the same day, Man United only need a draw from their last two games (both at home) to book their place in the UEFA Champions League group stage in 2023/24. Liverpool have just one match left at bottom-placed Southampton.
A spectacular volley from Casemiro in the area gave his team an early advantage, and the Red Devils controlled the game from then on, keeping a lacklustre Bournemouth side at a distance. The Cherries, who had already avoided relegation, were without key midfielder Philip Billing who was not in the squad, and it was evident on the pitch.
However, Man United had to rely on a brilliant save by goalkeeper David De Gea on Bournemouth’s best chance of the afternoon. The Spaniard, who won the Premier League Golden Glove award, stopped forward Kieffer Moore on a 1-on-1 with four minutes left in the game.
Thanks to the 1-0 victory over Bournemouth, Manchester United are one point away from their goal, and the good news for Red Devils fans is that both games will be played at Old Trafford, where Man United have been formidable.
The two games are on Thursday, May 25 vs. Chelsea, and then on Sunday, May 28 against Fulham.
With a Carabao Cup trophy, an FA Cup final against Manchester City scheduled for June 3, and a Champions League spot, it would be an amazing first season for Erik ten Hag.
Ten Hag named an unchanged team against the Cherries with Marcus Rashford missing out again, this time due to sickness. And as was seen last weekend, United are not very dangerous without Rashford’s penetrating runs.
But Casemiro provided the magic in Rashford’s absence, with a superb spinning volley after a Christian Eriksen ball floated into the box was headed by a defender, setting it up perfectly for the Brazilian who hit it on the volley.
Besides the goal, Man United did not shine in attack despite being given several chances by Bournemouth’s numerous errors. Antony was not sharp, Jadon Sancho was invisible, Anthony Martial was not influential, and Wout Weghorst was quiet except for a single shot on target.
Man United coasted through parts of that game and they are lucky that De Gea saved them on the best Cherries opportunity of the afternoon.
