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Rob Dawson, reporter
It took 77 minutes of the match against Sheffield United, but in the end Manchester United came up with a fitting tribute to Sir Bobby Charlton.
Charlton was famous throughout his playing career for his brilliant strikes from outside the penalty area, and the former England and United striker, who died on Saturday aged 86, would have approved of Diogo Dalot’s winning goal at Bramall Lane.
Dalot’s goal, which curled into the top corner from 25 yards, gave United a narrow 2-1 win over the Blades, as Erik ten Hag’s side won back-to-back Premier League games for the first time this season.
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Speaking before kick-off, the Dutchman said he wanted to win for Charlton, but also urged his players to do so in a style that the former Ballon d’Or winner would have enjoyed. United did the first part but failed in the second part of the Ten Hag Challenge.
This team – whether due to injuries, lack of confidence or a combination of both – still looks vulnerable and Sheffield United, bottom of the Premier League, may look back thinking they should have gotten more out of the game. . Despite having only picked up one point this season, they were the better team for most of the first half, and when Scott McTominay scored the opener in the 28th minute, it went completely against the run of play. It was certainly not a performance that suggested that Manchester United’s difficult start to the season was over yet.
“We wanted to remember Sir Bobby and I think we did that in a fitting way,” Ten Hag said afterwards. “We are happy to win, of course. Find a way to win and that was the approach I took in this match.
“The first half was not our best, but from the second half we controlled the match and won with a great goal.”
After six defeats in nine games, it is now two wins from two games either side of the international break, and if Ten Hag’s players need any extra motivation to help turn their season around, they need only look to Charlton and what he represents.
He was an academy graduate who survived the 1958 Munich air disaster which claimed the lives of eight teammates and became a key part of Sir Matt Busby’s reborn side which won the European Cup just 10 years later.
He was the club’s record appearance holder and record goalscorer for decades and helped England win the World Cup in 1966, the same year he was named FIFA World Player of the Year.
After retiring, he became the club’s manager, but his football passion meant he would occasionally join training sessions when Sir Alex Ferguson was manager in his 60s. Charlton’s work ethic, spirit and ability as a creator and goalscorer is something the current generation would do well to aspire to – something not lost on Ten Hag, who can do with few players like him.
“He set the standards as a Manchester United player,” Ten Hag said. “What he has achieved is an example for us and for all of us and should be an inspiration to us, not only for the win but also for his standards.
“We have to pay our contribution, say a big farewell, and remember Bobby Charlton because what he did was amazing. He was brilliant on and off the pitch.”
With the European clash against FC Copenhagen on Tuesday and the derby against Manchester City on Sunday, this could be a pivotal week in United’s season.
The team is in last place in its Champions League group after two defeats, and needs a win over the Danish champions at Old Trafford to maintain its hopes of qualifying for the knockout rounds, while a win over City would make things look rosier immediately.
There are issues for Ten Hag to solve such as how did Sheffield United, who have now lost eight of their nine games since promotion from the Championship, be allowed to be in front for so long in the first half, and why do United continue to concede goals immediately after scoring? Having allowed Arsenal, Bayern Munich and Galatasaray to hit back, they did so again when McTominay missed a penalty just 2 minutes and 55 seconds after putting United ahead.
In the end, it wasn’t as costly as it could have been, and on a day when United honored one of their greatest ever players, a win for Dalot meant a much-needed win.
But remembering Charlton means remembering what every United team should be like, and Ten Hag still has work to do to make sure this current team lives up to the standards set by the Manchester United legend.
