All my players were scared of him and they openly admitted it… I’ve suspended THREE of them till further notice”: Southampton coach suspends THREE players for failing to handle £68m Man United’s star after admitted it openly

Manchester United began their Premier League season with a decisive 3-0 victory over Southampton at St Mary’s Stadium. The match was anticipated as United aimed to extend their strong record against newly promoted teams. The Red Devils had suffered only one loss in their last 30 encounters with such teams and had remained unbeaten in their last 12 visits to Southampton’s ground. This game presented United with an opportunity to set a tone for the season and convey their intentions to the rest of the league.

The game took on additional significance due to manager Erik ten Hag’s tactical changes. He excluded veteran midfielder Casemiro from the starting lineup after his subpar performance against Liverpool, opting instead for Christian Eriksen in hopes of enhancing midfield fluidity. New recruit Manuel Ugarte, though expected to make an impact, was not fully match-fit and only appeared briefly towards the end.

From the outset, United asserted their dominance, creating several chances. Joshua Zirkzee, starting the match, nearly scored within the first 15 minutes but lacked the power to beat Southampton’s goalkeeper, Aaron Ramsdale, who made an easy save. Despite this miss, United continued to press and create threats.

United faced some anxiety when Diogo Dalot, defending against Southampton’s rising talent Tyler Dibbling, conceded a penalty after a one-on-one challenge. The tense moment was resolved when new goalkeeper Andre Onana, employing psychological tactics, delayed Cameron Archer’s penalty, eventually saving it to maintain the scoreline.

Energized by the penalty save, United shifted the game’s momentum. Bruno Fernandes delivered a precise cross to Matthijs de Ligt, who scored with a header to give United a 1-0 lead. This goal marked de Ligt’s first for Manchester United and was an encouraging start for the Dutch defender.

As the first half ended, Marcus Rashford scored to double United’s lead. Rashford, ending a Premier League goal drought that lasted since March, scored his first goal of the season, much to the satisfaction of Erik ten Hag. The 2-0 halftime lead instilled confidence in the United camp.

In the second half, United continued to control the game, thwarting any Southampton attempts at a comeback. The home side’s chances were further diminished when Jack Stephens received a red card for a reckless tackle on Alejandro Garnacho, who was injured but later resumed play. With Southampton reduced to ten men, overturning the deficit became nearly impossible.

In the final moments, Diogo Dalot redeemed himself by assisting Garnacho, who scored to make it 3-0. Garnacho’s goal underscored United’s attacking depth and secured the win. The final whistle confirmed United’s dominance, signaling their readiness for the season ahead.

This win brought United’s points total to six from their first four matches. It demonstrated their defensive strength, attacking ability, and the crucial role of goalkeeper Andre Onana. United will now prepare for their upcoming fixtures: a Carabao Cup match against Barnsley on September 17 and a Premier League game against Crystal Palace on September 21. With high confidence and key players performing well, United is poised to build on this positive start.