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Manchester United 1 CSKA Moscow 0: Jesse Lingard stars, Anthony Martial substitution unwelcome

ANALYSIS: The moment of the match and view from the bench as we take a closer look at this Champions League tie 

Agency
Tuesday 03 November 2015 23:19 GMT
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(2015 Manchester United FC)

STAR PLAYER

Jesse Lingard: Wasteful in possession at times, but deserves praise for taking risks and trying to take defenders on. His first-time square pass for Rooney's goal was weighted to perfection.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Wayne Rooney's goal: Rooney split the CSKA centre-halves perfectly to find space to nod in Lingard's pass, which came after a brilliant ball into the box from Michael Carrick. The relief inside Old Trafford was palpable. United played with much more freedom after that.

VIEW FROM THE BENCH

Louis van Gaal's decision to remove Anthony Martial and replace him with Marouane Fellaini went down like a lead balloon inside Old Trafford. United fans saw it as a negative move and had Rooney not scored, the Dutchman would have surely been booed when he went off the pitch. The United boss deserves praise for restoring Martial to his natural striking role, however. Van Gaal's opposite number Leonid Slutski kept Seydou Doumbia on the bench until the early stages of the second half, which was surprising given that the Ivorian has such a good record in the Champions League, particularly against English sides.

MOAN OF THE MATCH

That substitution: Martial was not having the best of games, but he still looked by far the most dangerous player on the pitch. Fellaini added little when he came on to the pitch. Rooney should have come off instead, but Van Gaal says his captain is untouchable.

(2015 Getty Images)

WHO'S UP NEXT

Manchester United v West Brom, Saturday November 7

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